Presented to the
LIBRARIES of the
UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO
by
Regis College Library
COLL. CHRISTI^GIS
BIB. MA J.
TORONTO
PLACE-NAMES
OF THE
COUNTY LONGFORD.
PLACE-NAMES
M3
OF THE
COUNTY LONGFORD
Collected from Various Sources.
CORRECTLY SPELLED IN IRISH AND FULLY
EXPLAINED IN ENGLISH
TOUtft fllotes ani> ^lustrations* ^
o
53
BY P < O
co *> t"1
REV. JOSEPH MacGIVNEY. ^ ^
U CQ (
J ^
-J
©ublfn: O
JAMES DUFFY AND CO.. Ltd., Q
38 Westmoreland Street.
1908.
9 n Q £» n
PREFACE.
♦
THE idea which led up to the production of
this work originated with the Rev. Thomas
Langan, D.D., P.P., Abbeylara. The Doctor sug-
gested that I should compile a list of all the
place-names of the County Longford, and inter-
pret them. At first I thought the work too
difficult, but on taking a look at the Maps of the
Ordnance Survey of the County, I found that
many place-names presented little difficulty.
In order to avoid guess work, which is always
of a doubtful character, and not likely to gain
credence, I got permission to become a reader in
the Royal Irish Academy, where, through the
kindness of Mr. MacSweeney, the Manager, I had
the use of rare and valuable books, dealing with
the ancient history and topography of the County
Longford.
Working on the Ordnance Survey, that famous
Celtic scholar, Dr. John O'Donovan, travelled
through this County in the year 1837. He col-
lected all the traditional, topographical and his-
torical information possible, respecting the County.
This information, partly in Irish, he carefully wrote
b
vi
PREFACE.
down in his "Letters," which are now preserved in
the Royal Irish Academy, and in his "Field Books,"
which, through the kindness of the Manager of
the Ordnance Survey Office, I have been able to
read. I found that that learned scholar had inter-
preted most of the place-names of this County.
For the meaning of other place-names not found
in these books I read Dr. O'Donovan's Edition of
the Four Masters. From the Inquisitions of the
County taken in the reigns of Henry VIII. and
Elizabeth, I gleaned much. The information col-
lected from these and many other valuable sources
I have carefully arranged and explained.
With the spelling of the English forms of the
place-names I have given myself little trouble.
To a Gaelic scholar who knows their Gaelic forms,
these anglicised names look most absurd. They
are almost all misspelled, being corrupt forms of
their Gaelic original. And what is worse, we have
come, through want of knowledge of our native
tongue, to look on these corrupt forms as correct.
Up to the present few of us know the meaning of
the place-names of our County, they are empty
sounds to our ears. We invariablj^misspell and
mispronounce them. Now, this little book is in-
tended to remedy all that. It will show us the
correct spelling of the place-names of the County
PREFACE.
vii
Longford. It will tell us the meaning of all or
almost all, the place-names in the County, In fine,
from it we can separate the pure and correct in our
nomenclature from the impure and incorrect which
we have been using in the past. The old Irish
place-name is not a mere fancy term, no, it de-
scribes in one or two words or syllables what is or
was the prominent physical features of the place.
To the ear of a person with no knowledge of the
Gaelic Tongue this description is completely lost,
while on the other hand it has much knowledge for
the mind and a picture for the imagination of the
man versed in the language of Erin.
It is said by some that Longford is one of
the most anglicised counties in Ireland. Certainly,
its position in the Gaelic League is not a con-
spicuous one, though a better effort is now being
made to promote the study of the Irish lan-
guage. I take it that most of the intelligent young
men and women of the County know, by this
time, the Irish forms of their names. This little
book will teach them the correct Irish forms of
their townlands and nearest post towns. So that,
with this knowledge, there is nothing to prevent
them addressing their letters in the Irish Lan-
guage. And what does this mean? It means
that every letter addressed in the Irish language
vii i
PREFACE.
is a little Irish lesson, which the post office official,
through whose hands the letter passes, has got to
learn whether he wishes it or not Thus, we can
all co-operate with the Gaelic League in diffusing
a knowledge of the language of Erin, the lan-
guage of our forefathers, the language of Sage and
Saint
seosAtii a. triAS'otiitone.
l><\ £eite tDjAigitDe, 1908.
The materials which I made use of in writing
this little book I derived from the following topo-
graphical and historical works : — Dr. O'Donovan's
Letters and Field Books on the County Longford;
The Annals of the Four Masters, Dr. O' Donovan's
Edition; The Tribes and Customs of Hy-Many,
which gave me some information on Lanesboro,
and the Callows ; The Book of Rights, translated
by O'Donovan ; Adamnaris Life of St. Columba,
by Reeves ; The Book of Fenagh ; The Vision of
MacConglinne, by Kuno Meyer; O'Curfy's MS:
Materials of Ancient Irish History ; O'Halloran's
History of Ireland, written about 1778. The
Author constantly quotes from the Ancient MSS.
of Ireland. Canon Bourke's Lessons in Irish;
Archdall's Monasticon Hiberniciim ; O'Flaherty's
Ogygia ; Eriu, edited by Kuno Meyer and
J. Strachan ; Publications of the Ossianic Society,
kindly lent me by Mr. Keena, Oldcastle, for which
I return thanks. I must also thank Mr. Coyle,
ex-teacher, Mount Nugent, for the loan of valuable
books. Gormac's Glossary, a rare and dear book
ix
X
believed to have been written by Cormac Mac-
Cuilenan, King-Bishop of Cashel. "There is no
work," says Dr. Healy, "in any living European
language that gives such evident proof of high
culture in the ninth century as this most interest-
ing monument of Celtic learning." Canon O'Han-
lon's Lives of the Irish Saints; Dr. Healy's Life
of St. Patrick; also Ireland }s Ancient Schools and
Scholars; Stuart's Historical Memoirs of Armagh ;
Dr. Joyce's Social History of Ancient Ireland;
Lewis' Topographical Dictionary ; Carlisle's Topo-
graphical Dictionary \ The Inquisitions of Long-
fordy preserved in the Record Office, Four Courts,
and in the Royal Irish Academy.
These Inquisitions were taken in the reigns of
Henry VIII. and Elizabeth. The place-names of
the County Longford given in these books exceed
twice the number given on the Maps of the
Ordnance Survey of the County. This is intel-
ligible. In the sixteenth century Ireland was
thickly populated. Then " every rood of ground
maintain'd its man," who gave to almost every
field a Gaelic name, pregnant with meaning. Owing
to the Cromwellian wars and the consequent whole-
sale eviction of our forefathers from the rich lands
of this fertile County, hundreds of pure Gaelic
xi
terms became obsolete. But these contained in
this book, as well as the notes and explanations
added, I have obtained from the above sources ;
so that I feel I am able to put before my readers
a genuine explanation of the nomenclature of
ancient Anghaile.
J. A. MacG.
Abbeylara, Granard,
February ijthy 1908.
Dear Father MacGivney,
I have carefully gone over your manuscript
on the Irish Place-Nantes of the County Longfordy
and found it very pleasant reading. It contains
a full collection, and, as far as I can judge, a satis-
factory explanation of each place-name. Where
there was a doubt as to the exact meaning you
were careful to quote the best Irish authorities in
support of the interpretation you finally adopted.
This gives weight to your work. I think the
general public will be delighted with your little
book, for it undoubtedly contains a mass of useful
and interesting information, not only on the place-
names themselves, but also on the Patron-Saints
of many parishes of the Diocese of Ardagh. I
am glad you adopted my suggestion of pursuing
this line of study, for while it has been a labour of
love to you, your diligent enquiry and research
will be fully appreciated by the people of the
county.
Yours very sincerely \
THOMAS LANGAN,
D.D., P.P.
The Hon. WILLIAM GIBSON, President of the
London Branch of the Gaelic League, writes ;-—
moorhurst,
Holm wood,
Surrey,
tneA-oon £031114111 25, 1908.
Dear Father MacGivney,
I find your book most fascinating. It is
representative of a kind of work which might be
done with advantage all over the country. If
your example were followed we should have, in
every anglicised district, a means by which the
very stones might be made to cry out against
the modern tendency to imitation. In any case,
Longford is to be congratulated.
tThfe, te me Ay moji,
Opinion of Mr. THOMAS CONCANNON, Head
Organiser of the Gaelic League: —
I read the proofs of Father MacGivney's Place-
Names of County Longford as they were going
through the Press, and I would like to say a
few words of the impression the book made on me.
In the first place I was struck by the scholarly
research of which the work gives evidence. The
Reverend Author has advanced no statement for
which he has not the best authority, and to obtain this
authority he has spared no pains and no expense.
He has consulted books and manuscripts which
are so hard to get at that they would be reckoned
quite inaccessible by a scholar less determined or
less in love with his work than Father MacGivney.
We are in his debt — if for nothing else — for hav-
ing brought the kernel of so many valuable books
under one cover.
This patient research has given to the work
an authoritative character. I might have been
inclined at times to change the spelling and to
give a slightly different meaning to some of the
translations, but in these cases the Author has
always the support of O'Donovan and other recog-
nised authorities.
xiv
XV
The people of Longford owe Father Mac-
Givney special thanks. He has furnished them
with the key to the language which every spot in
their county is ready to speak to them in, and
they are so much the richer. They have the same
advantage over the people of other counties when
they go among their hills and streams and rivers, as
the tourist in France with a knowledge of French
would have over his companion who did not know
the language.
In explaining the topography the Author has
given many and many an interesting lesson in
history, and he has added in a remarkable degree
to our knowledge of the saints who have given
lustre to the diocese of Ardagh.
I wish the book a great success. I wish it
for the Author's sake, that the patient labour of
many years, the fruit of much sacrifice, may be
rewarded. I wish it for the sake of Longford that
it may stretch out its hands for the riches that
have been gathered for it, and for the sake of all
Ireland, that others may take heart to do for other
counties what Father MacGivney has done so
excellently for the County Longford.
THOMAS CONCANNON.
September qth, 1908.
View of MISS AGNES O* FARRELL Y, M.A.,
President of the Ulster Gaelic College : —
bneipne,
T>eifieAT> £05111 1908.
Dear Father MacGivney,
I have read through your book and found
it fascinating reading. It is quite unlike any book
on place-names I have ever seen, for in its pages
the mind of the seanchaidhe and the heart of one
who loves every nook and corner of his native
district peep out from behind the knowledge and
industry of the chronicler.
At a cost of much patient labour and research
you have gleaned from the past many of our
legends and sacred traditions, and in doing this you
have given an example to all Ireland. Later on you
will, may I venture to suggest, give us a further
edition of your book containing the names even of
the fields and the fords and the hillocks of Long-
ford, so that even the smallest relic of the great
though saddened past may be honoured among
our people, and the names that breathe of the
heroic mind may all live again and vitalise the
stagnant ways of our modern life.
xvi
xvii
The Ireland you speak of is not dead. She
is rousing herself from the calm of many ages.
She is stretching out her limbs after a long sleep
of the mind, and by and by she will realise that
much of her energy has been conserved to her
even in her own despite, and much of her primitive
strength is left unexhausted. Other races have
grown hoar in thought and futile in speculation
whilst ours — except for the few — has lain fallow
for centuries, forgetting the ample days of our hero
life and the mind-world of our early thinkers.
What the awakening will bring only One can
tell, but we all have our thoughts and our hopes.
The signs and the tokens are many and varied.
This book of yours is one of them, and I wish it
God-speed on its mission and a full measure of
success, and further, I hope that every household
in County Longford and many households outside
of Longford will look upon the possession of a
copy as a matter of duty and pride.
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS-
— ♦ —
PAG*
Fac-Simile of Inquisition taken at Mostrim . . 3
m-Amifcijt LeatjiAtA (Abbeylara) . ... 5
Church of St. B rigid, Ardagh . . . .13
Ancient Church of Ardagh as seen to-day . . 13
Dolman in Townland of Aughnacliff t)& Ctoice) . 26
Rev. John C. Drumgoole . . . . 79
toe (Lough Gowna) . . . . .126
Church of St. Ciaran, Inisainghin, Loch Ribh (Ree) . 136
Church of St. Rioch, Inchboffin .... 138
St. Columcille's Monastery, Inchmore, Lough Gowna . 141
St. Columcille's Stone, Inchmore, Lough Gowna . . 148
toe nib (Lough Ree) . . . . .175
Cob^fi ponntAn (St. Fintan's Well). . . . 215
BBEYC ARTRON; ttlA1-
mSUItl CATLURtltl, Car-
tron attached to Abbey.
tTl ai n 1 f a \\ (derived from
the Latin monasteriuni)>
came into use in the sixth century,
when monasteries became numerous
in Ireland.
CA|tcj\un is an Anglo-Norman
term for land varying in quan-
tity from 60 to 1 60 acres. The
average size of a cartrun {Anglic^ ^cartron)^ was
about 80 acres. This Abbey, founded by Domh-
nal O'Fearghail, Prince of Anghaile, in 1400,
had one cartron of land, also some termon or
glebe lands attached to it. It was a small
Dominican Abbey which, after its dissolution,
passed into the hands of Richard Nugent, a
name, as we shall see, associated with the spolia-
tion of the monasteries of Lerha (recte, Leath-
rathd) and Inis-mor, Loch Gamhna.
2
PLACE-NAMES OF THE
Abbeyderg; ITi Tl 1 SU1 tl T) e-Atlg, red
Abbey. — 0? Donovan.
T)e<AfA5 means bright-red ; it is used as a pre-
fix with an intensive force, thus dearg-mheisge
means raging drunkenness. As the name im-
plies there was a monastery here. According to
O'Donovan it was a long, low building of the
14th century ; other writers say it was built
early in the 13th century* for Canons Regular
of the Order of St. Augustine. From the In-
quisitions taken in the reign of James I., it is
seen that this monastery was maintained by io|
cartrons of land. A monastery with its adjacent
buildings was sometimes called a congbAit, ie.} a
habitation.
" Inquisition taken at Meathustruim (Edge-
worthstown), in County Longford, 7th March,
XXXII. Elizabeth, before Christopher Browne,
Knight, and John Kiernan, gentleman, Commis-
sioners of our aforesaid Lady the Queen, for
inquiring by the oaths of upright and lawful
men of the aforesaid County, concerning all and
singular manors, lands, tenements, rents and
other hereditaments whatsoever, in the said
* By Gormal O'Quinn, Lord of Rathcline.
COUNTY LONGFORD.
3
County, by the said Lady the Queen, or by
any of her progenitors cancelled, withdrawn,
detained as in the Letters Patent of the said
Lady the Queen, by commission bearing date
at Dublin, 21st day of September, in 31st year
of her reign, more fully appears by the under-
mentioned jurors s —
" Ross O'Farrel.
14 Conor MacKeady, Meastrom.
" Richard MacKeady, Affin.
" Lisagh MacDonel, Corridowe.
* Tyrlegh MagTeige, of Allynagh.
" James O'Ferral, of Mota.
" Teige MacCahil, of the Mona.
" Shane MacEdmond, of Caltercullen.
" James MacDonel, of Callock.
" William MacKeady, of Meastrom.
" James MacTeige, of Clonoger.
" Lisagh MacMorogh, of Killiny.
" Which jurors say upon their oath, that the
said Lady the Queen was and is seized, and
ought to be seized in her demesne, in right of
her Crown, of a cartron of land called Ello-
ghen, with 8 messuages belonging to the late
dissolved monastery of Monasterderg, and by
the Queen from the time of the dissolution of
4
PLACE-NAMES OF THE
the monastery cancelled, abstracted, detained,
which are worth by the year, besides deductions.
6/6 Irish money, that the said Lady the Queen
is seized of i\ cartrons in Monishallaghen to
the said Abbey belonging to the annual value
of 6/6 ; that the said Lady etc. is seized of one
cartron of land in Etowerboy with io messuages
belonging thereto, parcel of the possessions of
the late dissolved monastery, value 6/6 Irish
money, that the said Lady is seized of a cartron
of land called Monard, part of the possessions
of said monastery, value 6/6 said money; that
said Lady is seized of a cartron in Killenbea,
part of possessions of said monastery, value 6/6
and one cartron called Cloonmockory, belonging
to said monastery, value 6/6.
"In witness of these premisses, as well the
aforesaid Commissioners, as the jurors aforesaid,
have affixed their seals to these presents, on the
day and year above said. Delivered into the
Exchequer 27th day of March, 1590, by the
hands of Tinalegh O'Brien."
This Inquisition shows the lands that be-
longed to this monastery. It also shows their
annual value in Irish money. In the reign of
Elizabeth 6/6 was equal to at least twelve times
From Photo by] [ IV. M.
m-AiniSCm leAttl&tA, (Abbeylara).
Built by Richard Tuite in 12 10.
COUNTY LONGFORD.
5
6/6 at the present day, perhaps more. Abbey-
dearg is now a crumbling ruin.
The old Abbey was situated in the present
parish of Carrickedmond.
Abbeylara; tn^ymisum teAUtl^Ud, Abbey
of half rath. — Four Masters.
On many occasions this monastery was de-
spoiled. First in 1066, when the original in-
stitution suffered in a dynastic dispute between
the chieftains of Breffney, and again in 1272
when Hugh O'Connor, one of the Kings of
Connaught, was at war with the English of the
Pale. Two of its abbots became bishops of
Clonmacnoise, one in 1398, and the other, John
O'Mayle, in 1447. Mention is made of one of
its abbots, Cornelius O'Ferral, in the Vatican
Papers of Pope Innocent VIII.
St. Patrick erected a church here and placed
St. Guasacht over it ; his feast is honoured on
the 24th January. It is traditionally told that a
labourer's cottage at the entrance of the village
from Granard, covers the site of this ancient
church, of which now nothing more is known.
"At Lerha, in Longford (says O'Halloran),
there was an abbey of Bernardines founded by
Richard Tuite, an Englishman, Lord of Granard.
6
PLACE-NAMES OF THE
The first monks of this abbey came from that of
Our Lady, Dublin, of the Order of Clairvaux.
Some say this house was founded in 1210. The
founder was killed the following year at Athlone,
by the falling of a tower, and was buried in
Abbeylara." Here also were buried many of the
O'Farrells, Princes of Anghaile.
Tuite came over to Ireland in the first in-
vasion and settled at Granard. In 1199 he
built the Castle of Granard,* to defend his
territory against 6 RAgatUxig (O'Reilly) of East
Breffney.
On the 30th of November, 13 15, Edward
Bruce burned the old town of Granard ; on that
day month, according to tradition, he plundered
this monastery and made it winter quarters for
a short period. The monks fled to Athlone,
but returned the following Spring, when Bruce
had departed. Richard O'Farrell, who became
bishop of Ardagh, surrendered this abbey about
1 541. Its possessions were very large, Tuite
; having enriched it with 18 cartrons of land, or
about 1440 acres, perhaps more. The following
record which I take from the Monasticon Hiber-
* " Where a large mote still retaining traces of a shell keep
on the top, marks the site. "—J. R. S. Antiqr.
COUNTY LONGFORD.
7
nicum, will show that Abbey lara was an institu-
tion of great wealth and influence : —
"On the surrender of the abbey, the said
Richard was seized of two carucates of land
with their appurtenances in Clonmore, of the
yearly value, besides reprises, of 13s. 4d.; four
carucates in Lerha, of the yearly value, besides
reprises, of 26s. 8d.; two carucates in Clone-
cryawe, of the yearly value, besides reprises, of
13s. 4d.; two carucates in Tonaghmore, of the
yearly value, besides reprises, of 13s. 4d.; four
carucates in Monktown, value, besides reprises,
26s. 8d.; and the tithes of corn of the rectory of
Monktown of the yearly value, besides reprises,
of 40s.; also of a moiety of tithes of the rectory
of Granard, of the yearly value, besides reprises,
of 26s. 8d.; a moiety of the tithes of the rectory
of Drumloman, of the yearly value, besides
reprises, of 13s. 4d.; and a moiety of the tithes
of the rectory of Ballymachivy, of the yearly
value of 10s. The rectories of Athlone, Leva-
naghan, Clonmacnoise, Tessauran, Ballyloughlo,
and Reynagh, were all appropriated to this
abbey."
" Lease under commission. Dublin, 26 Sep-
tember, IX. of Elizabeth, to Sir Thos. Cusacke,
Knt., and lady Jenett Sarcefeld his wife, the
8
PLACE-NAMES OF THE
tithes of Ballenamanaghe in the Annale, of the
lands of lord MacGennor in the Annale (these
lands lay to the west of Lough Gowna), of the
lands of Mount Carbre, of the lands held by the
heirs of Morff O'Ferrall, of all the Maghirt of
Granarde, of four granges in Granarde, of the
grange of Tonaghmore, of the grange of Rin-
colle, Cowldony, Clontrall, and Deraghe; the
rectories of Dromloman, Ballmakier, Ballekillen,
and Strade (Street), possessions of the late
monastery of Larro, alias Granarde, near the
town of Granarde, in the Annale O'FarrelFs
country. £13 18s. 6d. for the possessions of the
monastery of Granarde, provided they shall not
alien their interest without licence of the deputy
under the great seal, nor let to anyone unless
they are English by both parents, and shall not
levy coyn, livery, or other unlawful impositions
- — consideration 20 morks." — Fiants of Elizabeth.
It is traditionally told that Richard Nugent,
better known as the Black Baron of Bobsgrove
near Mountnugent, gave this monastery its final
death stroke. And the following extract gives
a colour of truth to this tradition : —
11 IV. and V. Philip and Mary. This monas-
tery (Abbeylara) situated in Le Annaly and the
COUNTY LONGFORD.
9
lands of Tonaghmore, Raicola,* Cowldony, Clon-
crawe,f Derraghe and BellamaneJ alias Bally-
managhe in Le Annaly, with two cartrons of
land in Lickebla, parcel of the possessions of
the said monastery, were granted for ever in
capite to Richard Nugent, royalties excepted."
— Monasticon Hiber.
ABBEYSHRULE, tn4iniSC1tl StUJUAIR, Abbey
by the stream.
Sruthair is derived from sruaimy a stream, and
etha, food, i.e.y a stream abounding in fish. There
was a monastery erected here about the end of
the 9th century, but it was destroyed by the
Danes. About the middle of the I2th century
O'Fearghail, Prince of Anghaile, erected a Cis-
tertian institution here and enriched it with 20
cartrons of land, or about 1600 acres. In the
founding of tTUinifcift LeAcjusca, Tuite proved
himself a munificent benefactor, but O'Fear-
ghail surpassed him in the erection and enrich-
ing of the great monastery of Shrule §
* Now Rincoola.
t Now Culcrough, in parish of Abbeylara.
% Now Cloug-h, in parish of Abbeylara.
§ "A fair is holdenhere on the first Wednesday after Trinity
Sunday." — Carlisle, Top* Diet
10
PLACE-NAMES OF THE
"Lease under commission at Westminster,
8 Oct., VII. of Elizabeth, to Thos. Bryam, gent,
the site of the monastery pf Shrowl in O'Ferral's
country, in the Annale ; lands of Urre in the
great moor of Monedonoghe ; four eel weirs on
the water of Eyne;* the lands of Cranaghe,
Ballemanagh, Knockaghe, the Rectory of Shrowl
alias Urre, three copies of corn and the Al-
tarages due to the vicar excepted, also the site
of the monastery of St Peter de Rubio alias
Monaster Rerick (i.e. Abbeydearg) ; the lands of
Monaster Rerick, the rectory of Rerick, two
copies of corn and the altarages due to the
vicar excepted. To hold for 21 years, at a rent
of £12 1 8s. 8d. for Shrowl, and £5 15s. 46. for
Monaster Rerick. Maintaining two English horse-
men. Not to levy coyn." — Fiants of Elizabeth.
Aghabo ; b6, field of the cows.
The sound which the lowing of a cow pro-
duces has given her the name bo ; bo is cognate
with the Latin bos% i.e.y both are derived from
the same stem, bov. — CP Donovan.
In former times the cow was the standard of
value. For a marriage portion so many cows
were given0 Given in payment of a debt a cow
* Now the River Inny.
COUNTY LONGFORD.
II
was called a sed ; a milch cow or an ox to
plough the land, was called a ri-sed, i.e., a king
or fine sed, and was equal to one ounce of gold.
The worst sed was a yearling heifer. One third
of the cattle given to discharge a debt should be
oxen to plough the land. White cows with red
ears were formerly much thought of. But the
Irish were not ignorant of money and its uses;
for we find them in the eighth century giving
money in charity. " In calculating an eric a
ri-sed was the unit." — (J Curry.
AGHADOWERY; AC AT) T)tl1tie, watery land.
This place is in the parish of Drumlish.
Dobar an old Irish word, also means water,
The word gaoth is found in Ulster and Con-
naught, and means a fresh-water stream into
which the tide flows, thus Gaoth-doir, now
Gweedore, in Donegal. Gaoth-beara (Gwee-
barra). Biorra also means water. Biorra (now
Birr in King's County), so called because of its
spring wells.
Aghafin ; AC^VO porm, fine field.
Poiiti, fair is opposed to pu<vd, red.
Fear-fionn, a fair-haired man. The surname
Morany derived from mofi-porm, means great
fair-haired.
12
PLACE-NAMES OF THE
AGHAGA; AC AX) J$A£, field of arrows or spears.
Gath means a heavy spear. Mirind^ derived
from rni, evil, and rind, a point, a spear with a
point likely to cause death. Astol> not unlike
the Latin hasta, means a long spear.
Aghaloora; ACAX) VUTIA15, St. Lurach's field.
There was a St. Lurach. — G Donovan.
Aghalust; AC AX) LoiSUe, field of the kneading
trough.
AGHAMORE; AC AX) motl, big plain, or field.
Aghavadden; AC AX) IT) AX) ATI, Maden's field.
AGHENTEMPLE; ACAX) ATI ue^tTiptntt* field
of the church.
Allen agh; A\\XeAK)AC, rocky.
Copn-Aitt (now Cornwall), means horny cliff.
X)un-Ap-Aitt (now Doneraile), fort on the cliff.
ANGUS; UITI AOtljtllSA, Angus' district.
Ufy is a common word for land as contra-
distinguished from sea, water. This was the
name of a place in the townland of Aughanoran,
* T) and C are never aspirated after the article in the
masculine genitive. See O'Growney, Part IV., p. 17.
Church of St. Brigid, Ardagh.
Ancient Church of Ardagh as seen to=day.
Founded by St. Mel in the 5th Century,
COUNTY LONGFORD.
13
parish of Scrabby, County Cavan. This place
cannot now be identified.
ANNAGH; eAtlAC, a marsh.
Annaghbeg; e^\11>dC b&Ag, small marsh.
ANNAGHCOLLEN; eAtlAC COlU/m, little wood
by the marsh.
Annaghdaniel; eAtlAt T)OrhnAltt, Daniel's
marsh.
Domhnall is derived from domhan, the world
and uaitt* pride, i.e., the pride of the world about
him. — (J Donovan.
ARDAGH; AtlT)-ACAt), high plain or field.
In most place-names ac<vo forms a prefix.
Ard (anglicised airf), means a point of the com-
pass. " From all airts the wind can blow." Ara
is cognate with the Latin arduus. — Stokes.
Maine, son of Niall the Great, and Ajto-
com<Mjice eiftiwi-thte, i.e., regent of all Ireland
in the absence of his father, had large tracts
of land from Cruachan to Loch Ribh (Lough
Ree) — Book of Lecan.
* tlAitl, is derived from Aitle, beauty. Physical beauty no*
unfrequently generates pride. Italy, derived from ioc, a
region, and Aitte, beauty. — Bourke.
PLACE-NAMES OF THE
According to other writers, Maine was Lord
of South Teffia, which comprised the southern
half of the County Longford. St. Patrick bap-
tised Maine, who gave him Ardagh as a site for
his Church, which was the origin of this diocese,
to which it gave its name.
According to Carlisle's Topographical Dictionary
there was a monastery of Franciscan Friars in
Ardagh, which was reformed by the Friars of
the Strict Observance in 1521. "Fairs (says
Carlisle) were holden in Ardagh on 5th April,
26th August."
" Inquisition taken 27th January, 37th Eliza-
beth, finds that there was here a Hospital, Ter-
mon, Irenach or Corbeship endowed with two
cartrons, and the Bishop of Ardagh was entitled
to the chief rent out of the several Corbeships in
the County Longford." " The See of Ardagh
(says Carlisle) was valued at £11."
Annaly; AnjAlte, the great-grandfather of
Feargail.
" Anghaile was the tribe-name of the O'Far-
rells, it also became the name of their County,
which comprised the whole of the County
Longford. According to Genealogical MSS.
the O'Farrells derived this tribe name from
COUNTY LONGFORD.
15
Anghaile, the great-grandfather of Feargail, from
whom they derived their surname in the 10th
century." — Four Masters.
ARDAGHAGULLEN (near Granard) ; 4tV0 A' CtM-
t/IHH, high ground of the holly-tree.
The article aspirates in the genitive mascu-
line singular " In the spoken language An is
usually contracted to <Z except before vowels
and f.n — Dr. Henry \ part I., page 12.
Maghchuillinn (Anglice, Moyculleri), plain of
the holly.
Ardandra; AVJO AVWKA, elevated ground.
The O'Farrells had a castle here.
ARDAUN ; AKOAVl, a hillock.
A is sounded like au in naught.
ARDBOHILL; 'dtVO b^(MlLt, hill of the shep-
herd's crook.
Bacally derived from bar cows, and caille, a
staff, i.e., a herd's staff.
Ardnacassagh ; ako wa 5-ceise^c, high
ground of the causeways.
Tochar M6ry which means a great causeway,
was the ancient name of Arklow in County
Wicklow. Ceis, a causeway made of sticks and
16
PLACE-NAMES OF THE
brambles across a marsh, thus Keshcarrigan, in
Kiltubride, County Leitrim, means the ceis by
the little rock.
Ardneeve's Well; cobatl ^tlDtlAOltTl,
Archsaint's well. — O* Donovan.
" This well is in the parish of Kilashee. There
were twelve Archsaints or Apostles of Erinn : —
Kieran (recte, Ciaran) of Clonmacnoise ; Kieran
of Saighir; Brendan of Clonfert; Brendan of
Birr; Columcille ; Finnen of Clonard ; Finnen
of Magh Bhile (Moville) ; Columba of Terry-
glass ; Molaisse of Devenish ; Canice of Agha-
boe ; Mobi of Glasnevin ; Ruadan of Lorrha
(It was St. Ruadan who cursed Tara).
ARDOHILL; 4TfO eoc^ltt, literally, high
ground of the yew tree, A place near Bally-
mahon.
From this tree many places got their names.
UlAg 66 (Mayo), plain of the yew tree. CiU, e6
(Killoe), church of the yew tree. Iubhar is
another name for a yew tree. Iubhar-chinn-
tragha, yew tree at head of strand ; this was the
former name of Newry, County Down. Lissa-
nure, Gortanure are easily understood. Churches
were formerly built in yew groves and near yew
COUNTY LONGFORD.
17
trees. The perennial verdure of the yew tree,
its longevity and durability made it an emblem
of immortality. The pagan Irish looked on this
tree as having magical powers, and hence they
used it in their superstitious practices.
ARDOLAUGH; &WO hill of charcoals.
Charcoal was obtained from the birch tree, it
was used in metal work and gave out the
greatest heat.
ARDS ; 11A h-^R'OA, high grounds.
ASNAGH ; e-AStlAC, trenched ground.
In Kilkenny and Waterford etarce (now eitre),
means furrowed land and is derived from Yy,
(lower) earth, and etar, between (higher earth.)
ASSOLAS; AC SOUVIS, ford of light.
A ford to which frequently a light was brought
in order to enable people to cross it safely.
This is the name of a place on the shores of
Loch Gamhna. Solas, derived from sol, the sun.
Auburn ; ac&T) n-A gtieine, field of the sun.
Grian, g. greine, the sun, is derived from
gyrando {terrain). — Cor. Gloss. Galileo's theory
was that the sun is the centre of the world and
B
18
PLACE-NAMES OF THE
that the earth has a diurnal motion of rotation.
It was not for this theory he was condemned,
but because he held other views arising out of it
that seemed to conflict with Theology. His
condemnation was issued by a disciplinary Con-
gregation not officially sanctioned by the Pope.
AUGHABOY; ACAX) b 11 1*6e, yellow field.
AUGHABRACK ; ACAX) btlfrAC, speckled field.
AUGHACUNEEN ; AC AX) & COItlin, field of the
rabbit.
AUGHACLAUR; At Ctdltl, ford of plank,
plank across ford for passengers.
Aughacordrinan ; acax) con t>tuvi ge^ri -
A\Y\, literally, field of the round hill of the
blackthorn.
Draigkean&n, derived from trog-aon> wretched
one; means a miserable tree, because of the
abundance of its thorns. This place is in parish
of Columcille.
AughaderG; ACAX) T)e>Atl5, red field.
Dearg means bright red. Rfaadh (r&fus), red,
is opposed to fionny fair.
COUNTY LONGFORD.
19
AughadegnaN; 'OAinjJiri, field of the
stronghold. — 0' Donovan.
Daingin is derived from do, difficult, and goin,
to wound. From goin comes the English word
gun. baile <\n txMnjjin (now Ballindine, County
Mayo), town of the fortification. Dingle in
County Kerry means the same.
Aughadonough ; &t&b xyonncAX)^ Denis*
field.
AUGHADROMDERG ; AC&T) *OROm^ t)eitl5,
field of red ridge. Dromdearg was the ancient
name of Drumcliff, in the barony of Carbry,
County Sligo, the most northern point of the
6 Ttu<\ipc (O'Rourke) territory ; it was also the
ancient name of Downpatrick." — Ossianic Poems.
AUGHADROMCARN ; ACAt) T)tlOmA CA1fl.11, field
of the mound ridge.
Cam means a heap of any kind. It some-
times marks the spot where some warrior was
buried. Corn-hill (Cairn-hill). Car is derived
from cam, because a heap is placed on it. — Cor.
Gloss.
AUGHAFODDA ; &t&0 ^ATXA, long field.
20
PLACE-NAMES OF THE
AUGHAGREAGH; ACxVO StieAC, field of moun-
tain flat.
Aughakeel ; ACxVO CAOt, narrow field.
AUGHAKEERAN; ACAT) CAOtltAWtl, field of
the rowan berry or mountain ash.
The Irish pagans regarded the quicken tree
or mountain ash as sacred, and they used it in
their superstitious practices. The rowan berry
was sometimes used as a simile by the Irish
poets in praising beautiful features. " Ua f caiI
tia g-CAop if bAine <xn l/it 'n-a teacAin aj; c<xif-
tmpc f io\[\\mx>e" z.e., " the brilliant colour of the
rowan berry and the brightness of the lily are
perpetually contending for the mastery in her
cheek." — Eoghan R. (ySullivan. T)juntTi-C40|i-
6<Mrm (Drumkerin, County Leitrim), ridge of
mountain ash. Aughakeeran is in parish of
Columcille.
AUGHAKINE; ACAt) CAt)A111, Kyne's
field. — O 'Donovan*
AUGHAKILMORE ; ACAt) Cltte tTlOlRe, field of
big church.
Cill, genitive cille> is the dative singular of
ceall.
COUNTY LONGFORD.
21
AUGHALAHAN ; ACAT) teAUAII, broad field,
Aughaloghan; ACAt) toCAItt, field of the
pond,
Ldchan means also chaff. Pfieacan toc<xn, a
magpie,
AUGHAMORE ; ACAt) WlOU, large held.
AUGHANASPICK ; AtAt) AH eASpOlg, field of
the bishop.
When St. Patrick began to consecrate bishops
he found that the Irish language had no word
for bishop, and, consequently, he had to borrow
the Latin episcopus> which, Gaelicised, became
e^fpog. Easpog is found in surnames, thus
Gillespie is the Anglicised form of MacGiolla
Easpoig, son of the servant or follower of
the bishop. Giolla at first meant a youth, then
it came to mean servant or devotee, at the
present day it means a farm servant. Gillie, or
Gilly, a man-servant, is a Scotch word. Rath-
aspick, fort of the bishop. Aughanaspick is
near Moydow.
AUGHANORAN; At All tltlAUl, ford of the cold
spring.
As a passage from one territory into another,
or as a place of defence, the <xc, or ford, was an
22
PLACE-NAMES OF THE
important point. In the " Tribes and Customs
of Hi trUitie"we read that the three famous
fords of that ancient principality were Athenry
{At tia or the Ford of the Kings ; Athlone
{At ttiAiri), or, the Ford of the Loin (for a fuller
explanation of this place-name see "The Fair
Hills of Ireland," p. 250, by Stephen Gwynn,
who takes its etymology from the Tain Bo
Cuailgne), and Ballyleague {At pirm), or
the Ford of the stony place of Fin MacCumh-
aill. Mullach uar&n (Mullahoran, County Cavan),
hill of cold springs. Oran, County Roscommon,
and Oranmore, County Galway, have the same
meaning. Uardn may be derived from ur, freshf
or from fuar, cold ; the f, by aspiration, became
silent and finally was dropped. Aughanoran is
in the parish of Scrabby0
AUGHANTROUGH ; At AW UtlAlt, field of the holm.
AUGHANTEEDUFF ; AtA*6 AW U1ge mill), lite-
rally, field of the black house.
AUGHARAINEAGH ; AtA*D UAlttieAC, fern field.
AUGHAREA ; AtA*6 XMAC, grey field.
AUGHAREVAGH ; AtA*0 XMA?)At, grey field.
COUNTY LONGFORD.
23
AUGHARICKARD ; ACAT!) tllOCAtVO, Richard's
field.
AUGHASOLISH ; At A' SOtAIS, literally, ford of
the light, z\e.} light for accommodation of people
crossing the ford.
Aughaward ; t)A1tlX), Ward's field. This
place is near Ballinalee.
Ward (in Irish, Mac an Bhaird), means son of
the bard. The Mac Wards were from the earliest
times poets and historians in Ulster* Profes-
sions of their ancestors have given to many
families their names. 6 Se<\ncAin (O'Shanahan,
or Shannon) means descendant of the historian;
TTIac ah LeAga (Lee, or Leech), descendant oi
the physician; ttl<\c Cfiuicin (Curtin, or Mac
Curtin), descendant of the harper — Cjiuic, a harp;
HIac An UiompAttAig (Tenpenny), descendant of
the tympanist. The order of bards is very
ancient, dating back to the days of Milesius*
Each of the five provinces had its chief bard
who elected the Ajro-OllAtn, or Chief Bard of
all Erinn. Eochaidh, who was King of Ulster
some centuries before the Christian era, and was
called OtWh Fotita, or learned Doctor, because
of his great erudition, was the first to establish
at Tara a college called Mur-Ollamhan for the
24
PLACE-NAMES OF THE
education of bards. He also established a trien-
nial parliament at Tara called 1peif UeAtfipAc,
which was held three days before the great feast
of Samhain (ist November), or the moon, cele-
brated in the temple of Tlactha, on the Hill of
Ward, near Athboy. It is worthy of note that
the Teach Modchuarta, or Great Feis House at
Tara, was 750 feet long, 30 cubits high, and 50
cubits in width, and had 14 doors. But to
return to the bards, they held rank equal to the
nobility, and enjoyed the first seats at public
banquets. Those who took out their full de-
grees at the Mur-Ollamhan ranked priores, just
as the doctors of the great School of Armagh
preceded all other doctors in Erinn. They
were divided into three classes : the Ottarh |\e
b|\eiceAthriAf , or professor of Law ; the Ottarh
pe SeAticuf, or professor of History; and the
Ot,t<MTi |ie Ceot, or professor of Music. They
were men of great wealth, who kept open houses
of hospitality. Worthy of mention in this
respect are O'Duigenan, of Kilronan, County
Roscommon, and Mac an Bhaird, of Tirconnell.
O'Coffey and O'Higgins were bards to the
O'Farrells of Anghaile. From the Genealogical
Map of Ireland it will be seen that O'Higgins is
COUNTY LONGFORD.
25
a very old name in the neighbourhood of Gran-
ard; but in the 15th century they went north-
wards, and became famous bards and historians
in Ulster and Connaught. The O'Cuirnins were
bards to the O'Rourkes, princes of West Brefney.
The O'Duigenans'Xvere bards and historians to
the MacDermotts, of Moylurg, in Roscommon,
and Marshals of Connaught. The Book of Bally-
mote, sold in 1522 to O'Donnell for 140 milch
cows, was compiled by O'Duigenan, of Kilronan
This book is now preserved in the Royal Irish
Academy, Dublin. Of the same family was
O'Duigenan, of baite Coittce po§<Mfi (now
Castlefore, in parish of Fenagh, County Leitrim)
He was bard to MacRannal (Reynolds), of
Muintir Eolais, which was the name for all that
country now known as South Leitrim, Pere-
grine O'Duigenan, of Castlefore, was one of the
Four Masters. In compiling that great work
Dr. Healy places him on the left of Michael
O'Clery, with the Book of the O'Duigenans be-
fore himc The last of the bards was Carolan
the Blind, who died in 1738, and is buried in
Kilronan, but the Four Masters record that the
last bard who held the rank and property of a
Chief-Ollamh, was Mac an Bhaird (Anglica
Ward), who died in 1609.
26
PLACE-NAMES OF THE
Aughboy ; At tmit>e, yellow ford.
Aughine; ACAft AT>Ainn, field of the round
hollow.
AUGHISKE ; At tnsge, literally, ford of water.
Aughnacally; aCa*o ha CAitlige, field of
the nun.
Cailleachy a nun, is derived from caille, a veil ;
but cailleach, an old woman, comes from cail% to
keep house.
Aughnacrannagh \ aCa* ha 5-cnAtitiAC,
field of the trees.
Crann (old Irish, crand), a tree, is derived
from ere, clay, and fond> a base. — Stokes.
AUGH N ACLIFF ; ACAt) HA CtOlCe, field of the
stone. This place is in parish of Columcille.
AUGHNACROISHE ; ACAft HA CtlOISe, field of
the cross.
AUGHNAFUINSHOG \ AC HA ptJIIHISeOlge, ford
by the ash tree.
AUGHNAGARRON ; At tIA CeAtftArflAtl, marsh
of the quarter portion
From Photo by] [Rev. J. MacGivney.
Dolman situated in Townland of
AUGHNACLIFF (ACxXT) tlA CiOICe).
It gave that place its present name.
COUNTY LONGFORD.
27
AUGHNAGEERAGH ; AtAT) tIA g-CAOTtAC, field
of the sheep ; here c is eclipsed by 5.
The article eclipses the initial consonant of a
noun in the genitive plural — both genders. — p. 1 5
Christian Brothers' Grammar.
Aughnagower; ACAX) HA tl-5 Ot) ATI, also
5At)Att, field of the goats.
tig broad gets a nasal indivisible sound called
in Irish njeAUAt. — Diarmuid and Grain.
Aughnagreish ; ACAXi 11A 5-CR01S, field of
the crosses.
Aughnahowna; ACA*£> tIA tl-A1t)tie, literally,
field of the river ; nominative plural is also
<xibne.
"The ancient name of the River Nile was
Abantri; Ab in old Irish, as well as in some
of the oriental tongues, is father, and ouen, a
river. We also read that this name {Abantri)
was changed to that of Niulus in honour of this
Prince, who, by aqueducts conveyed its water to
different parts of the kingdom. Now the name
of Niulus was, and still is, peculiar to the Irish
nation ; by it many of our princes were formerly
28
PLACE-NAMES OF THE
called, and, to commemorate this great ancestry,
the chiefs of the Heremonian line glory in the
name of O'Neill at this day." — O'Halloran.
Aughnamoddy ; ACAt) flA ttlATKVO, field of the
dogs.
AUGHNAMONA ; At tlA tTlOtlA, ford of the bog.
AUGHNASELLAGH ; ACAt) tlA SAlteAC, field of
the willow trees.
In 1430 O'Neil marched a great army into
Anghaile and went first to Seanlongphort, and
from thence to CoiLL-SaLac, two miles south-
east of Meathustruim. — Four Masters. C01H-
SaIac here means wood of the willow-trees.
CltKMtt S^iteAc (Clonsilla, County Dublin), mea-
dow of the willow-trees. *Opuitn SaileAc, ridge
of the willow trees ; this was the ancient name
of the ridge on which St. Patrick built his church
at Armagh ; SAiteoj;, little sallow tree.
AUGHNASHINAGH ; ACAt) tlA SlOtltl AC, field of
the foxesc
SiormAc is derived from nechy one ; if fine, that
is oldest ; £&, sionnach is the name given to a
fox because of the length of his life. — Cor. Gloss.
This place is near Ballinalee.
COUNTY LONGFORD.
29
AUGHNASHINGAN ; ACA^ tlA SeAtlSAtl, field
of the pismires.
Seangan is derived from seang, slender.
AUGHNASKEAGH ;* ACAft tlA SgeAC, field of
the bushes.
SgeAc ge<xt, a whitethorn bush.
AUGHNASKILLOGE ; ACxVO tlA SSIOttOg, field
of the sliced potatoes.
This is the name of a townland on the shores
of the beautiful Loch Gamhna. The people of this
place were remarkable for their great strength,
It is more commonly known now by the name
Dring.
AUGHNAVALLOGE ; ACAT) HA t>-£6ltte05, field
of the woodbines.
t) eclipses p in genitive plural.
* Lisnaskea, County Fermanagh, got its name from the
inauguration tree of the Maguires — tiof tiA r^e-Ac.
for one animal ; the rod was not so narrow, with
a ct<Mt>e or fence on each side of it, and was
made for horses of the mansion. Ramut was
the name of a road which led to the king's
forts ; it was wider than the rod and was without
fences ; all who had land bordering it should do
their part in cleaning it. The slighe was a high
road, so wide that the king's chariot and the
bishop's chariot could easily pass. Lamrota was
a bye-road between two slighes, and made for
convenience, Bealach has a wider signification
than bothar ; a bothar has fences, a bealach need
not have ; a bothar should be so wide that two
30
PLACE-NAMES.
31
cows could fit on it, one lengthwise and the
other athwart, with their calves or yearlings
alongside them. bo£difiin, a little road ; boi&y\
bo jnrme, the " milky way"; beAUxc <xn T)oini'r?
(now Ballaghaderin), the way of the little oak ;
beatac CongtAif (now Baltinglass, County Wick-
low), Conglais' road. Each road should be
cleaned of brushwood, water, weeds on three
occasions : in time of horse-racing, in winter, and
in time of war0 — Cor0 Gloss.
Ballina ; t>6tlt At) At A, mouth of the ford
Ballinamorf ; t)6tlt AT\ AtA mOltl, mouth of
the large ford,
BALLINAMONY; t)Alte X\A m011A, town of the
bog.
Baile originally meant a homestead with its
out-houses, but in course of time it came to
mean a townland. b<\ite rnofi, a large town, a
market town. " The Irish call a village or
hamlet, be it ever so small, by the name b&ile,
Anglicised bally." — Donovan.
BALLIN AMUCK ; toetll AtA WA tntnce, literally,
mouth of ford of the pig.
This mysterious pig commenced operations at
Scarva, in County Down ; by its rooting it
32
PLACE-NAMES OF THE
formed a large fosse known as the " Dane's
Cast," and in width measuring from 70 to 80
feet. This trench, with its mound, is said to
resemble the Wall of Antoninus Pius in Great
Britain. " The western end of this wall is called
the Swine's Dike, and a village near Langton is
known by the same name." This strange ani-
mal, it is said, continued its rooting till it came
to Lough Gowna, where it was killed. If this
be true some other mysterious pig or powerful
agent must have taken up the work, for this
trench can be clearly traced southwards from
Loch Gamhna to Killina Lough, and is called
by the old people, 5^eAnn ^ muice T)uibe, or,
the Valley of the Black Pig. It is also called
the Dunchladh, and was the boundary line
between the ancient territories of Breffney
and Annaly. Beulf the mouth, is derived from
biadh) food, and e6lasy knowledge, z>., knowledge
of food in eating. Muc> a pig, is derived from
mucna, truculent, for the pig is of a truculent
nature. — Cor. Gloss.
Ballinalee; t>eut &CA X\A U\0$, mouth of
ford of the calves.
Ballinalee was formerly called St. Johnstown, be-
cause a monastery erected here at an early period
COUNTY LONGFORD.
33
was dedicated to St. John the Baptist. There
was also here an hospital or biatach maintained
by four cartrons of land, or about 500 acres. St.
Johnstown, or the old "pocket borough," as it
was called, was represented in Parliament by
two members, till the Union. Schoolland, near
Ballinalee, was left by Sir James Ware, for the
education of Protestant children, and hence the
name. Cornwallis celebrated his victory at
Ballinamuck, in Ballinalee, where he strangled
to death 137 men. A mound, known as Bully's
Acre, marks their burial place. " Murder ap-
pears to be their favourite pastime," wrote
Cornwallis of the yeomanry. — Smyth.
BALLINCLAR; t>frut AUA At! CtAITt, mouth of
ford of the plank, i.*.s plank across mouth of the
ford for the accommodation of passengers.
An aspirates in the genitive singular masculine.
BALLINCURRY; t)A1te An CUTiRAlg, town of
the morass.
Currach meant formerly a racecourse. From
currach or corrach comes corry a crane, because
cranes seek their food in marshy places.
Ballindagny; bAite An DAW^ne, town of
the stronghold.
c
34
PLACE-NAMES OF THE
BALLINLAUGHTA ; t)A1te An teACUA, town of
the mound. It is near Mostrim.
Leacht originally meant a dead man's " bed,"
and is cognate with the Latin lectus, i.e., both
come from the same stem, leg. Leacht now
means a honorary monument of any kind, gene-
rally a heap of stones. — G* Donovan.
BALLINLOUGH; t)A1te A11 toCA, town of the
lake.
Imliuch (now Emly), means land verging on
a lake. Loc TX&ifibfieac (Lough Derryvaragh,
County Westmeath), lake of the oaks. Ballin-
lough is near Bunlaghy.
BALLINPHULL; t3A1te An ptUtt, town of the
quagmire.
BaLLINREE ; t)Alte An tllg, town of the king.
In ancient Erinn a single plough was sup-
posed to turn up 1 20 Irish acres in the year,
and this was called a ploughland; 12 plough-
lands were equal to a bally or townland, and 30
ballys were equal to a tuath, and there were 184
tuatha in all Ireland.
COUNTY LONGFORD.
35
120 X 12 x 30 X 184=7,948,800 acres.
There are in Ireland, 20,815,464 English acres,
From this it will be seen that the old Irish acre
was nearly three times larger than the English
acre. " The acre of the measure of the Gaels is
twice or thrice greater than the acre of the
division of the Galls.,, — Joyce.
The governor of the tuath, which in extent
was equal to the modern barony, was called a
Hi, or king. It was the smallest division whose
ruler could claim the title tli. Now, there were
four classes of kings in ancient Erinn, viz., the
^ivo-tli, or king of all Ireland ; the king of the
province; the king of the lT)6|i cuau (Mor
tuath), i.e., three or four tuatha together ; and
the king of the tuath. In theory the king of
the tuath was subject to the king of the mor
tuath, and the king of the mor tuath to the
king of the province, and so on ; but we know
this in fact was not the case, because these kings
were constantly at war with one another. Brian
Boroimhe (pronounced Boru), was the only king
who, in ancient times, came nearest to ruling all
Erinn. Tli is often used as a prefix, as |tf§-feAji,
a perfect man, a king in a way ; pi'5-(tti)-beATi,
an excellent woman.
36
PLACE-NAMES OF THE
BALLINROOEY; t)A1te An tlUTDAIS, where the
rue — a plant having a bitter taste — grows.
MacEvoy, the landlord, has anglicised this
place " Frankford." It is on the shores of
Lough Gowna.
BALLINRUD; t)Alte AH H01T), town of ferru-
ginous scum.
This townland is in the parish of Abbeylara.
Ballinshroghan ; t>Aite An c-stiotAm, town
of the stream.
Ballintleive ; t>Aite An u-steit)e, town of
the moorland.
Sliabh means a bog or marsh, also a moun-
tain. SU Ab AtpA, the Alps. Atpa (now Alba)
is the Celtic name of Scotland, in reference to
the Highlands. Ballintleive is situated in Derry-
cassan on the shore of Lough Gowna.
BALLINTOBER ; t)A1te An UOt)A1tl, town of the
well ; tibra, genitive tiobraid> also means a well.
CitL-ciobpAi'o (now Kiltubride, County Leitrim),
church of or by the well. UiobjiAit) Afiann
(Tipperary), well of Ara, which was the original
COUNTY LONGFORD.
37
name of the place where this well was.— Joyce
CttiAin ciobjvAiT) (now Clontibrid, in parish of
Gortletteragh), meadow of the spring well.
Ballinulty; t)A1te Atl tltUAlg, town of the
Ulster man.
" As Mumhain or Munster took its name from
Mumho, so did Uladh or Ulster by inflection from
Ollamh Fodhla." Ulster was also called Ctn^e
Concobaifi, or Conor MacNessa's fifth part, be-
cause formerly there were five provinces in Ire-
land ; Meath having been formed into a fifth
province by Tuathal Teachtmar, about the 85th
year of the Christian era, for the better support
of the monarchy, and which was called " mensal
territory of the monarchs of Ireland." It in-
cluded East and West Meath, Dublin and Kil-
dare, Longford.
With permission of the reader I shall make a
slight digression here to explain the etymology
of the other provinces. Connaught is derived
from Cond-ichta, the descendants of Con,
viz,, Con Cead-Chatha, or Con of the Hundred
Fights, and hence the Arms of Connaught show
a raised arm bearing a sword. The more ancient
name of this province was Olnegmacht, the
38
PLACE-NAMES OF THE
etymology of which is not given. This is the
famous Con who agreed with Eoghan Mor,
King of Cashel, to divide Ireland into two equal
portions. A long chain of hills stretching from
Galway to Clonmacnoise and Clonard, formed
the dividing line. This dividing line, called
" Eisgir-riada," was protected by nine thousand
men.
Eochaidh III. was called Mumho because of
his great power and strength, and the " Psalter
of Cashel tells us that from this surname Mun-
ster took its name." He was the 32nd monarch
of Ireland, and was slain at Knockany, in Lime-
rick.
Leinster a spear), got its name from
the broad, flat, sharp-pointed spear used by one
of its early kings named Labhra Loingsech.
The termination ster (derived from the Danish
stadr), in the names of the provinces, was added,
and means place.
" As Mumhain or Munster took its name from
Eochaidh Mumho, so did Uladh or Ulster, by
inflection, from Ollamh Fodhla ; hence it would
seem that Munster was so called from its supe-
rior power (Mumho meaning power, strength),
and Ulster from its learning/' — GHalloran,
COUNTY LONGFORD.
39
UtcAc is the Irish form of the surname, Dun-
levy. O'Dunlevy held sway in Dal-Araidhe,
which was the ancient name for the County
Down and part of the County Antrim.
Ballyauran ; tXAIte tlAfL&T), town of the cold
springs.
This place is now anglicised Springtown,
and is in parish of Abbeylara. The people have
completely forgot its original name. The place
is remarkable for its spring wells and pure
water.
BALLYBEG ; t)Alte t>OA5, little town.
Ballyboy ; bAlte t)t!1>oe, yellow town.
This place is in parish of Abbeylara.
Ballybranigan ; t>Aite tn t)nAtiA5Ain,
O'Branigan's town.
Ballybrian ; t)A1te til Tm\&m, O'Brien's town.
Ballyclamy; t)A1te CtAt>rnett, town of fences.
The name of a place near Forgney.
BALLYCLAR; t)A1te CtA1U, town of plain.
40
PLACE-NAMES OF THE
BALLYCLOGHAN ; t)A1le CtOCAItl, town of stony
ford.
It is a place in the parish of Legan.
BALLYCORE; t)A1te C01U, just town.— O "Donovan.
Ballydaly ; t)A1te m t)AtA15, O'Daly's town.
Formerly many families of the name Daly lived
here, and hence the name. With one exception
they are all gone, and with them their name ;
their place is now known by the name Augh-
nagarron (recte, Athnaceathramhan).
BALLYDRUM ; t)A1te T)ROmA, town of the ridge.
Ballyduff; tXAlte X)tlt), black town. There
is a bog here.
BALLYDUFFEY; t)A1te til t)UttUA1$, O'Duffy's
town.
BALLYGAR ; t)Alte SeAtltl, short town.
Gearr is derived from the verb gearraimy to
cut, for what is cut is shortened. — Bourke.
BALLYGARVE ; t)A1te gAtlt), rough town.
COUNTY LONGFORD.
41
BALLYGIBBOGH; t)A1te 510t)AC, rough or ragged
town.
BALLYGOWLEY ; t)A1te gAtttAC, forked road.
This place is in parish of Street. 5°^°5>a
fork in a tree, also the fork made by the division
of a large ridge into two ridges, is called by Irish
speakers a gabhlog.
Ballyglassin ; t)A1te 'T 5tA1S1t1, O'Glasheen's
town.
Ballyhoolivan ; DAite tii SthteAl)Airi,
O'Sullivan's town.
Ballykeeran; DAlte CAOtltAltm town of
the rowan-berry.
There is a place of this name near Athlone.
Ballykenny; t)Aite rtiAC cioriAOiu,
MacKenny's town.
Ballykilchrist ; t)Aite true giottA Crtfosu,
Gilchrist's town ; see Aughanaspick.
Ballynock; tUVlte Atl CtltnC, town of the hill.
BALLYLAR; t)A1tetA1U, town of central position,
prostrate.
42
PLACE-NAMES OF THE
BALLYLEAGUE ; Detlt At A t1A5, mouth of ford
of stony place.
This was the original name; then it came
to be known as At U45 pinti, or the ford of the
stony place of Fin MacCumhaill (MacCool).
In 1 220 Walter De Lacy built a castle here
which was destroyed by Cathal Crovdearg, King
of Connaught, who died in 1224 in the monas-
tery of Knockmoy, in the habit of a Grey Friar.
Ballymacormick ; b<dite rhic cotirn<dic,
MacCormack's town.
The correct orthography is Corbmac, which is
derived from corb, a chariot, and mac> a son.
Corbmac Gelatai Gaeth was the first person
called Corbmac, because he was born in a
chariot ; he was the grandfather of Cathaoir
Mor, and lived in the first century of the Chris-
tian era. Near this townland is a chalybeate
spring.
Ballymacrowley; baite true cftUA'oUxoic,
MacCrowley's town.
Situated in parish of Granard.
Ballymacegan; bAit,e rhic tAxy^AW.^
MacKeegan's town. — 0* Donovan.
COUNTY LONGFORD.
43
Ballymacwilliam ; b^xue true tnVUdrn,
MacWilliam's town.
Ballymahon; baite rn AtgAtfiri a,
MacMahon's town.
BALLYMINION ; tMlte mion^n, town of kids.
Ballymichan; baite til ttiiA'OAC^in,
O'Meehan's town.
BallymorriS; b^lte mtimjlS, people named
Morris lived here, and hence the name.
BALLYMORE; b^lte m6tl, large town.
This place is in parish of Granard.
Ballynacross ; bAlte tlA CUOISe, town of
the cross.
Ballynagresh ; baite ria 5-ctios, town of
the cross roads.
This townland is in parish of Abbeylara ;
there is, as the name implies, a cross roads at
the place.
Ballynagall ; b^lLe ng^tt, town of the
foreigners.
44
PLACE-NAMES OF THE
Gall was first applied to the Danes, then to
the Normans, and lastly to the English, potin-
5<\Vt, fair-haired strangers. *Ou1>5aU,, the black
strangers, applied to the Danes, g^"111!1) foreign
soil, the Pale. This place is near Granard.
Ballynagoshen ; b<Mte VIA g-COISfn, town
of the footmen. — 0' Donovan.
Ballynahinch ; b^ite ha h-inse, town of
the inch or holm.
Ballynakill; b^ite X\& ClUle, town of the
church.
Ballynamanna; b^xite n<\ mAn^c, town of
the monks.
Manach is derived from the Latin Monachus.
St. Patrick finding that the old Irish language
had no name for monk, had to borrow from the
Latin.
Ballynamoney ; b>Aite wa moriA town of
the bog.
Ballinascraw ; bAite nd sgtiAiue, town of
the green sward.
This townland is in parish of Clonbroney;
there was formerly a school in Ballinascraw.
COUNTY LONGFORD.
45
Ballynascullog ; bAlte nA SCOL65, town
of the farmers.
Scoldg originally meant a scholar, but in time
it came to mean a farmer, because the monks
devoted much of their time to cultivating their
lands as well as to study. The surname O'Scully
(6 Scot<Mt>e) means the scholar.
BALLYNOE; bAlte n HAT), new town.
Ballyrevagh; bAlte 111 Ab AC, grey town.
BALLYREEHAN; bAlte An tllACAin, Reaghan's
town. — 0y Donovan.
BALLYRODDY; bAlte An tlOTMIge, Roddy's
town.
The definite article is frequently used in Irish
before surnames — p. 193, Christian Brothers'
Grammar.
BALLYROE ; bAlte TltlAt), red town.
Ballywalter; bAlte bAIUetl, Walter's
town. — CP Donovan.
Ballywillian ; bAlte An tiitntmn, town of
the mill,
Muileann is derived from meil> to grind, and
linn, a pool. King Mithridates of Cappadocia
was the first to invent a water mill, 70 B.C. The
46
PLACE-NAMES OF THE
first corn-mill in ancient Erinn was erected by
King Corbmac MacAirt (224-247 A.D.). Seeing
that his handsome bondmaid named Cernaid
had to grind corn daily with a quern, he took
compassion on her, and he sent across the seas
for a millwright, who constructed a mill on the
stream Nith, which flowed from the Neamhrach,
or sparkling fountain, on the hill of Tara. Six
seds, or cows, was the wages paid for building
a mill. Goban Saer was the greatest of all
builders ; he lived in the seventh century and
was a native of Malahide, County Dublin.
BALOO; bAlV tt!5, Lewy's town. — 0? Donovan.
Ban now ; t>A11t), a young pig.
BARNACORE ; tMTlft n-A COtt<VO, top of the weir.
Barney; Dentin A, a gap.
\ao\ 'oum beAfirnMg (Lisdoonvarna), literally
the lis of the gapped stone fort.
Barneygole; bfrdtiriA ;£db<Mte, gap of the
forked place.
Adrigole (64*0411-54641 1), between the prongs
of the fork. Gowel (5A^At), near Carrick-on-
Shannon, means a forked place, probably caused
by two streams.
COUNTY LONGFORD.
47
BARRY; beATMC, called after St. beapac, or
Barry, of Tarmonbarry. — 0* Donovan.
Barraghmore; b&dtlUAC in OR, great bare
town.
BARROO ; b<\tltl fttlAT), red top.
Barrnarinne; bdtiti via tunne, top of the
headland almost dividing Killinea Loch.
Rinnduin (on Lough Ree), castle of headland.
Erected 1227.
Bawn ; b^TVfrotm, an enclosure.
An enclosed plot of ground into which cattle
were driven at night for safety, was called a
badhbhdhun, and it is derived from 6a, cows,
and dun, a fortification.
Bawn Lower; b^yfrotm tOfiCAItl.
Iochtair is derived from ic (now ag), at; and
tir, earth, img.% at the earth, and therefore low.
The bawn was formerly attached to a castle or
fortress. C. Melaghlin went to castle of Birr
and burned the bawn, in 12 14. The O'Farrells
had castles at Bawn, in Parish of Killoe, and at
Bawn, in Ardagh.
Bawn Upper ; b<v6tV6tm
48
PLACE-NAMES OF THE
Bawnavreagh; b&X)¥>T)Xix) tiA b-piAtiac,
bawn of the rough grounds.
BEARN ; be^RtlA, a gap.
BEAGHMORE; bdU ttlOtl, large birch.
BEAGHABON ; beiU AtXAtin, birch by the river.
BEGNAGH; bUlgneAC, boggy.
Blenavoher; t)t6A11 A' bou<Vltl, hollow of
the road.
BOGGAN ; bOgAtl, a quagmire, soft place.
BOHER ; bOUAtl, a road.
BOHEREEN ; boUAltlltl, little road.
BOHERMORE ; t)OUAtl mOtl, large road.
BOHERNACROISHE ; t)OUAtl tlA CTLOISe, road
of the cross.
BOHERNAMEELTOGE ; t>OUAtl tlA miOtUOg,
road of the midges.
Bolea ; bHAItO, an enclosure for cattle.
BRACKLIN; DtieAC CttlAflAC, speckled
town. — & Donovan.
COUNTY LONGFORD.
49
BREAGHY ; toReAtrhtng, wolf field.
These animals were formerly numerous in Ire-
land. As they were dangerous, they were run
down and killed ; the last native wolf was seen on
a mountain in Kerry in 1728. Other names for
a wolf are PaoIcu, which literally means a wild
hound, Ulac Uipe, which literally signifies son of
the country. Breaghy is in parish of Cloon-
broney.
Breany; DtlSAtlAl^e, a fetid place, a slow-
flowing stream which consequently becomes
fetid.
Breanriskculew ; totieAtmtnsc - CoitteAt)
fetid moorland.
BRISKILL ; t>tl10SC-COltt, brittle wood.
Brosna (old Irish briss-ni, a breaking thing),
a bundle of withered sticks for fuel. Briosc,
brittle, is not unlike the Latin priscus, old, and
therefore withered and brittle.
BREEKINS ; t)R01 01111*06, little badgers1 warren.
BRINAGH ; t)R1tieAC, abounding in coarse grass.
BROCKLAGH ; DROCtAC, badgers' warren.
BUNACLOY ; t)tm A' CtAlt>e foot of the mound
or fence.
D
PLACE-NAMES.
BUNDOON ; Dtitl T)tfin, lower part of the stone
fort.
BUNAHOWNEY; t)tm HA tl-A1t>ne, mouth of the
river.
Bunalough ; t)tm A1 toCA, lower part of the
lake.
Bunanass; t)tm ATI 6ASA, lower part of the
cascade.
Essaun (6<\fAn), a little cascade. Assaroe
(beat e^fA tltiAt)), the cataract on the River
Erne at Ballyshannon.
BUNESCA; t)tm UtSCe,* mouth of the river.
Bunlaghy; Dun nA tAtAlge, lower part of the
quagmire.
Loughdufif, County Cavan (Lauac mibf ), black
quagmire. Annaduff, County Leitrim (Cauac
'oub), the black marsh. — Four Masters.
In 1830, Bunlaghy had 65 human habitations
and 299 souls. — Lewis' Topographical Dictionary.
BURREN ; tMlttieAnn, rocky land.
This place is near Derrycassan, on the shores
of Loch Gamhna.
*pAific An potin-liifge, Park of the pure water; now
Phoenix Park, Dublin.
+ Also tAiteac x>ub. — p. 416, Dinneen.
AH AN AG H, CAtAtlAC,
Kane's place.
CAHIR; CAUA1TL, a round
stone fortress of dry
masonry.
Places of this name are
numerous in the West and
South of Ireland; thus Cahirdaniel (Cacaiji
*OoriitiAiU,), County Kerry; Cahirciveen (Cauaiji
Sanobin), County Kerry; Cahirlistrance (Cacaiji
tiofC|\eAin), County Gal way. It is said that
St. Patrick taught the use of lime and sand in
building.
CAHIRDAGUE; CeAUAin X)etl5, fourteen.
Caherdaniel; CAtaitl 'OOtflTlAltL, Daniel's
fort.
CALDRAGH ; CeAttUtlAC, burial ground.
Relig (derived from the Latin reliquiae), also
means a burial ground. Relig na Ri'ogh was
5*
52
PLACE-NAMES OF THE
the name of the royal burial-ground at Rath-
croghan, where the Kings of Connaught were
buried. Ruam (derived from Roma), a place
where people of the Roman creed were buried.
Cairn teacu (Tallaght),* signifies the burial-
ground of people who died of a plague. feAfu;
also means a burial-place: Cluainfearta, Ard-
fearta. CeaUxjiac A cogAit), contracted to CetXX
a 60541*6 (now Kilcogy, County Cavan), means
the burial-place of the mutual war. Cojjait),
derived from cotti-cac, mutual war. — Cor. Gloss.
In James Stephenson's land, in Tromra, parish
of Abbeylara, there is a place called Caldragh.
It is traditionally told that formerly there was
a populous village here, that a tyrant named
Reilly, who lived in Higginstown, evicted all
the people on a Good-Friday, that at a hunt
soon after, Reilly was thrown from his horse and
killed. The people, who tell this sad story, look
with certainty on Reilly's death as a punish-
ment from God — a propter hoc.
Caldraghbeg; ceAttUtlAC t>eA5, small
burial ground.
Caldraghmore ; ceAttCtlAC mOft, large
burial ground.
* Cairo, plague ; teacu, mound.
COUNTY LONGFORD.
53
Callows ; CAtAt) tIA tt-Atl5A1te, marshy dis-
trict of Annaly.
C4t<vo means a green flat field bordering on
a lake or river. In Munster it means a ferry
where boats land. Callows is the name for that
district in South Longford bordering the River
Shannon.
Callum ; CAtA tom, bare land.
Cam ; CAtTl, a winding.
From cam is derived comma (because it is
crooked), used in punctuation. Caman, a hurly,
a stick with a crooked head. Cambutta, a walk-
ing stick.
CAMAGH ; CAtTl m&£> crooked plain.
This place is at the River Inny in Abbeylara
parish.
Camlin (River); CAtTl tttte, crooked line.—
O'Donovan.
The source or fountain head of this river is a
well in Water-lane in Granard, called Uob<\ji
Hi h-eAt>|iA, Mb, O'Hara's well. The water from
this well flows southwards, then it takes a cir-
cuitous turn in the direction of Ballinalee, where,
54
PLACE-NAMES OF THE
joined by other streams, it swells into a large
river known as the Camlin (recte, Catnline), and
flows on to the Shannon.
CAMLISK; CAtT) teiSCe, winding of the lazy
man. — 0' Donovan.
CAMOG ; CAtYlOg, little winding.
CARAMORE ; ceAtfLA mOtl, great quarry.
Caranfull; ceAttlArhAII AW pm\X, quarter
of the hole.
Carbry; CA11H3TL6, a name by which North
Longford was formerly known.
Teamhfna or, by Latin writers, Teffia, was the
original name of the County Longford, or at
least the greater part of it. North Teffia was
co-extensive with the barony of Granard, and at
least part of barony of Longford, and was divided
from South Teffia "on the line of the present rail-
way from Mullingar to Longford." — Dr. Healy.
Maine, the fourth son of Niall Naoi n-Giall-
iadh, or Niall of the Nine Hostages, had his
dun at Ardagh, and ruled over South Longford.
Cairbre, the eldest son of Niall, having married
COUNTY LONGFORD.
55
a Firbolg princess named Mulreany, who, accord-
ing to tradition, owned the Moat of Granard,
ruled from that historic spot territory co-exten-
sive with all North Longford. He also had
tracts about Lough Erne and the barony of
Carbury, in Sligo. Cairbre was the bravest of
the sons of Niall, Conal Gulban (youngest son
of Niall) excepted. Then the County Longford
came to be known as Upper Conmaicne, to dis-
tinguish it from Muinntir-Eolais or South Leit-
rim, which was called Lower Conmaicne, because
both Longford and South Leitrim were peopled
by the descendants of Conmac, the son of Fergus
(the dethroned King of Ulster), by Queen
Meadbh of Connaught. " There were in all five
places known by the name Conmaicne, viz.y
Conmaicne-Cuile-Tola, or the barony of Kil-
maine in County Mayo, the lordship of O'Tal-
cairn ; Conmaicne-Dunmore in County Galway,
the estate of O'Siodhlan; Conmaicne-Mara (now
Connemara), in County Galway, the country of
the O'Ceilies," and the first two mentioned
above. In the nth century the O'Farrells hav-
ing defeated the O'Cairbres, called their territory
Anghaile. This Anghaile was the great-grand-
father of Fearghail, from whom they derived
their surname in the tenth century. Lastly the
56
PLACE-NAMES OF THE
County was called Longphort* (now Longford),
which means (O'FarrelFs) fortress, the site of
which is now covered by the Military Barracks.
It is worthy of note that the County Longphort
formed part of Cuige tThoe, or the royal pro-
vince of Meath.
Carna ; CAtltl/A, piles of stones on which the
Druids light their solemn fires on May day.
Carnan ; CxVRH AH, a monumental heap of stones.
Carragh ; G&tltlAC, rough land.
Situated in parish of Abbeylara.
CARRAEENY; COTLtlA 6ut1t1A, Eany's
weir. — O" Donovan.
CARRABAWN ; CORttA tXdtl, white weir.
CARRAROE ; CeAtnttlAt) TttlAt), red quarter.
CARRICKADORISH ; CAtltlAIC A' T)OtlA1S, lite-
rally rock of the door.
is the word given in Fr. Dinneen's Dic-
tionary y but O'Donovan spells Co^aic. T)o|i<vf
* " As O'Neale continued quiet, he (Lord Sussex) was enabled
to attend to the execution of various measures. Among the
chief of these was the division of the reduced districts into
counties. Annaly was called Long-ford." — Ware, ad. an. is6j.
COUNTY LONGFORD.
57
moji, hall door; t)Ofu*f ctht, back door; *oofwyf
ffiAi'oe, the front door. This place is in
parish of Columcille.
CARRICKATANE ; CATttlAIC A C-S61I1, rock of
prosperity. — (J Donovan.
Carrickboy; CAtttlAIC t)Ult>e, yellow rock.
In parish of Legan.
CARRICKBEG; CAtlft<\1C pe&§, little rock.
CARRICKDUFF ; CARTIA1C t)tlt), black rock.
This place is in parish of Abbeylara; the
black rock which has given a name to this town-
land is there to be seen.
CARRICKEDMOND ; CARUA1C SAtrioirm, Ed-
mond's rock.
"Tlaorh SmeAC o a§ Since x>o fLiocc tlaoi
5iaVLm§, i.e., St. Shineach from Thigh Shinche
of the tribe of the Nine Hostages." Maine,
who lived at Ardagh, was the progenitor of the
O'Shineachs, or Foxes, O'Quinns, O'Kiernans,
O'Dalys, etc. St. Shineach was probably the
founder -of this parish (Carrickedmond), and
Thigh or Teach Shinche (now Tashinny) would
53
PLACE-NAMES OF THE
be a more suitable name for it. St. Shineach's
feast falls on 9th November. Teach Shinche,
St. Shineach's cell or church.
CARRICKGLASS ; CATUIA1C gLAS, green rock.
CARRICKLEA; U At, grey rock.
Carrickmaguirk ; c^ntiAic triAg tunc,
MagGuirk's rock.
tTlAg takes the place of TTIac when the surname
begins with a vowel, f aspirated, 1, n, r, d. This
place is in parish of Drumard.
CARRICKMORAN ; tilORAItl, Moran's
rock.
The surname Moran is derived from m6ry
great, fionny fair-haired. Moran then means great
fair-haired.
There was at the beginning of our era a
famous Irish judge named Moran, he was the
son of Cairbre Cinnchait. On the death of his
father, Moran was elected King, but resigned in
favour of the royal line of Milesius.* Feradch
Fionfactnach, or Feradch the Most Just, as the
new King was called, appointed Moran his chief
* Milesius is derived from Mile-Espaine, hero of Spain — O'HaU
loran.
COUNTY LONGFORD.
59
Brehon or Judge. In this capacity Moran wore
a gold chain or sin around his neck ; if he passed
an unjust sentence the chain tightened ; if a true
one it expanded. To swear "Dar an Iodh
Mhorain," i.e., by the collar of Moran, was a
common practice up to a few hundred years ago.
This legend is taken from the Book of ' Bally mote.
CARRICKMOYRAGH; CAHRA1C ttlA15 TteAC, rock
of the grey plain.
CARRICKNAHOO ; CAtltlAIC tlA ft-UAirhe, rock
of the cave.
This rock is convenient to the town of Gran-
ard and has, as the name implies, a cave in it.
This cave, it is said, has underground connection
with the Moat.
CARRICKURNA; CAtltlAIC eOtltlAtl, rock of
barley.
Carrigeen ; CAtltlAlglll, small rock.
CARRASTRAWLEY ; CeAUtlAThAt) SCtlA01tA1§,
straggling quarter.
CAR ROGER; CeAttlAtflAt) tltlAltrtll, Rory's
quarter.
6o
PLACE-NAMES OF THE
Carrowentemple ; ceAtiiArhAt) An ueAtn-
ptlltt, Church quarter.
As the name shows, there was a church here
(at Granard) from an early period ; not the
modern Ueatnpult jg&lVoA, which now probably
covers its site.
CARROWBEG: CeAtftArhAt) tteAg, little quarter.
Carrowdunican ; ceAttiArhAt) *6onnCon,
Dunican's quarter.
Carrowfortharla ; ceAttiArhAt) ptimz: An
1 AtVLA, quarter of the Earl's bank.
Carrowlinan; ceAtRAttiAt) tAit>5eAnAin,
Lynan's quarter.
CARROWMORE; CeAttlAtTlAt) TTlOtl, large
quarter.
Cartron ; CAtlUTltin, a quarter portion of land.
Cartron is an Anglo-Norman term for land
varying in quantity from 60 to 160 acres. In-
quisitions taken in the reign of Elizabeth men-
tion 80 acres as a cartron. Carucates, having
the same meaning, was the term used in reign
of Henry VIII. This place is in the parish of
Granard.
COUNTY LONGFORD.
6l
CARTRONBOY; CAtiUtUltl Dtmie * yellow cartron.
CARTRONBORE; CAtlUtUltl t)0UA1tl, cartron of
road lands.
Cartron brack; CAtlCtltm tDtieAC, speckled
cartron.
CARTRONCAR; CAtlOltm tlA CeAtVOCAtl, car-
tron of the forge.
Ceardhchan is derived from ceard, an artisan,
and ca, a house, hence a workshop.
Cartronfin; CAtlCttUtl piorm, fine or fair
cartron.
CARTRONGAR ; CAUOlUtl 5eAHll, short cartron.
CARTRONGARVE ; CAtlOlUTl gAtlt), rough car-
tron.
CARTRONGEERAGH ; CATlOVUtl tlA 5-CAOUAC,
cartron of the sheep.
CARTRONGOWLAN ; CATlCtltin Atl $At5Ldlt1,
cartron of the forked place.
Cartronlebagh ; CAtlCtttJtl teAt>t)AC,
straggling or patchy cartron.
* In this townland is a cavern with several chambers. —
Lewis, Topographical Dictionary,
62
PLACE-NAMES OF THE
Cartronmarkey; CAtlctitfn A' rhARCAijg,*
cartron of the horseman.
Marc is a generic term for a horse and is found
only in compounds. Marcach (now Markey) is
applied to a man having many horses; marc-
lack, a cavalcade: beat >dcA ha tn<\|ict<\c (now
Ballinamallard, County Fermanagh), mouth of
ford of the cavalcade. Gearrdn, a gelding, is
derived from gear, to cut ; each, a steed ; each rats,
a race horse. Capall, derived from cap, a car,
and pell, a steed, i.e>, a car-horse or pack-horse.
The Irish formerly rode without saddle or stir-
rups; with one ech-leim the rider got on his
dillat (now diallaid), which was a sort of thick
cloth.
CARTRONREVAGH ; GAtlCtltJtl tt1At)AC, grey car-
tron.
Cartronwar ; CAttCtltftt A' t)A1tltl, cartron of
the high lands.
Cartronwillan ; CAticiitfti a' rhtnttw, car-
tron of the mill.
This place is near Granard.
* ttUjtc-Ais is found in surnames and is Anglicised Ryder.
COUNTY LONGFORD.
63
Cashel ; CAISeAt,* a fort built with uncemented
stones, round the king's palace.
In the 5th century the people began to build
with mortar. The walls of the caiseal were not
as thick as those of the caher.
Cashelbeg ; CAISeAt t)eA5, little stone fort.
Castlebawn ; CA1SteAH tX&tl, white castle.
Castlebrack; CAISteAtl t)tieAC, speckled
castle.
Castlebrock ; CAISteAtl tlA mt)ROC, castle of
the badgers.
Castlecore; c a 1 s t e a 11 con, odd
castle. — (J Donovan.
Castlerea ; CAISteAtl tl1At)AC, grey castle.
Castletown ; t>Aite An CAisteAitl.
Castlewilder ; CAlSteAtl Wilder, Wilder
was the name of the former owner.
In the beginning of the last century there
were petty sessions held here every alternate
week. This place is situated in parish of Kil-
glass.
♦Caiseal also means an earthen wall faced with stone. — Kuno
Meyer.
64
PLACE-NAMES OF THE
CAVAN ; CAt)At1, a hollow place.
CtJb&n Hi tlagAVtaig, now Cavan town, County
Cavan ; Cabin c-Sile (Cabinteely, County Dub-
lin), Sheela's hollow place.
Churchquarter ; ceAtRAttiAt) Ati ueAm-
ptlltt. This townland is convenient to town of
Granard.
CLARESS ; CtAtlAS (CtAtl &ASA), plain of cas-
cade.
Clawinch ; CtAlt>e mse, mound of the inch.
CLERAWN ; CtOICtieAtl, rocky ground.
CLIENRAGH ; CtAOn-ttAU, inclining fort.
This word inverted becomes U<\c-ct<xom (Rath-
cline).
CLOCHAN ; CtOCAtl, stony ford.
Ctocan n<\ bporfiojiAc, the Fomorians' Cause-
way ; now the Giants* Causeway.
Cloghan ; CtOCAtl, same meaning.
Cloghas; CtOgCAS, a square belfry; also
CtOgAS.
From ctos, a bell, comes the word clock.
COUNTY LONGFORD.
65
CLOGHER; CtOCAtl, a stony place; it also means
an assembly, college, stone church.
CLOON ; CttlAltl, a lawn, a meadow.
CUiAin means rather a sequestered place. In
such places the saints in the early ages built
their churches. Cruimther Fraech had his mona-
stery at Cloon, in County Leitrim. Cloonmorris,
where St. Morris (ITIuiiijif) had his little com-
munity. St. Ciaran selected Clonmacnoise; St.
Brendan, Clonfert (CluAin £eAf\uA) ; St. Jarlet,
Clonfoish. The two Emers, Clonbroney (CtuAin
bporiAij), etc.
Cloonagh ; cVUAItt eAC, meadow of the horses.
Each, a steed, a horse of good quality.
CLOONAHEE; CtUAm tlA tl-OVOce, literally,
meadow of the night,
Oidhche is derived from ceo, darkness, and oid,
an element. Anocc, a particular night; ah Anocu,
to-night ; An oit>ce 'nocu, this very night. Our
forefathers used to count time by the night;
thus coiccigeAf , which is the Irish for a fortnight,
literally means fifteen nights. " Moses was forty
nights on Mount Sinai without drink or food." —
Life of St. Fechin. When they spoke of a day
and a night they put the night first and made
£
66
PLACE-NAMES OF THE
the day follow it ; thus oit>ce Sattitia, Halloweve
night;* oit>ce beAtc<Mne, May eve; oit>ce tlot)-
tag, Christmas eve; oit>ce Ue ncotaij;, Christ-
mas night*
Cloonaghmore ; CtUAnAC IT! Oil, great meadow
land.
CLOONAHUSSY ; CttlAin A' COSA1$e, meadow of
the footman. — 0? Donovan.
CLOONANAGH; CttlAltl eAnnA1$, meadow of
the marsh.
CLOONARD ; CttlAin ART), high meadow.
CLOONBACK ; CttlAin t)A1C, inclining meadow.
CLOONBALT; CttlAin t)AltU, lawn of welt or
excrescence. — (J Donovan.
CLOONBEARLA ; CttlAin t)6A1ltA, lawn of Eng-
lish language.
Bearla is derived from beul> the mouth, and
radh, speech. Bearla is now commonly written
sacs-bearla.
Cloonbo ; CttlAin t)0, meadow of cows.
* " Dies natales et mensium et annorum initia sic observant
ut noctem dies subsequatur." — Cues, Bell Gall
COUNTY LONGFORD.
67
CLOONBREANY; CUIAW tmSine, fetid lawn;
lawn of ill odour.
Cloonbrien ; CttlAHI t)ft1A1H, O'Brien's lawn.
Clonbroney; Ct/UA1tt t>TL0tlA15, Bronach's
lawn.
"St. Patrick baptized and tonsured Mochae,
the son of Bronach, who was the daughter of
Mi Icon, and he (St. Patrick) preached the new
Gospel of peace and love to the grandson of the
master who had held him so long in bondage/'
From this passage, taken from the writings of
Dr. Healy, it is clear that Bronach was the name
of one of the two Emers who added that name
to the cluain on which they built their convent.
Hence this place-name is as old as the dawn of
Christianity in Ireland. The old grave-yard
marks the site of their convent, of which no
trace now remains ; the landlord knocked down
the last remnant of it many years ago, to get
stones to build a neighbouring bridge. Some
writers think that this was the first convent of
nuns established in Ireland.
O'Halloran, in his History of Ireland, written
about 1778, states at page 162 that there was a
monastery of females in Ireland before the com-
ing of St. Patrick : " The first monastery of
68
PLACE-NAMES OF THE
females on record in Ireland is that of Kill-
Leaden, in the county of Carlow, founded by
St. Kieran, before the arrival of St. Patrick"
There are many holy women mentioned in con-
nection with the convent at Clonbroney. St.
Samhthan (pronounced Savhan) was patroness of
Clonbroney. In the Book of Fenagh is the fol-
lowing : — '"Otijpm jro t)o SAmcuirm x>on nowioig,
c&c 'oechtfiA'o f cpepAU, -oia cAbecl^<M,o.',
Of this piece of ancient Irish, the following is
the translation given: "I (St. Caillen of Fenagh)
am entitled from Samhthan, the holy virgin, to
every tenth screpall of what she levies." A
screpall was equal to three pinginns and both
were silver. A milch cow was value for 16
screpalls. From this we see that money was in
circulation among the Irish at an early period.
It is difficult to understand why Caillen of Fenagh
claimed tithes from the Superioress of Clonbrony.
We know he claimed every tenth penny from
Crimther Fraech of Cloon, " and ordered it to be
sent to Fenagh," although much rivalry existed
between these two monasteries, and St. Man-
chan of Mohill also paid him an annual tribute.
But these two monasteries were in Muinntir
Eolais, over which Caillen as Bishop and chief
ecclesiastic exercised spiritual jurisdiction, where-
COUNTY LONGFORD.
69
as the monastery of Clonbrony was in the terri-
tory of Cairbre, and under the protection of
Bishop Guasacht, or his successor at Abbeylara.
Muinntir * Eolais means the people of Eolas, who
was the 37th in descent from Fergus MacRoi,
It was the name of all the territory from Lough
Allen to Sliabh Cairbre, or Cairn-hill, in the
parish of Kiloe. Of all that country, Fenagh
was the chief city and religious centre, and
Caillen who lived at Fenagh was its Bishop. His
jurisdiction extended over all that territory and
therefore to Cairn-hill, which is distant but a
few miles from Clonbrony. Now, the monastery
at Clonbrony had eight cartrons of land, or
about 1,000 acres, and perhaps some of these
acres stretched beyond the base of Sliabh Cair-
bre into Muinntir Eolais, and therefore brought
the monastery of Clonbrony under an obligation
to Caillen, just as a Catholic living in the parish
of Granard, but owning land in Abbeylara, would
be expected to pay dues to the priests of Abbey-
lara. There must be some mistake in regard to
the date of St. Samhthan's death which is stated
to have occurred in 735, whereas St. Caillen
lived in the time of St. Columcille, who died
* Muinntir also means the aggregate of monks in each
monastery. — Kuno Meyer.
7o
PLACE-NAMES OF THE
597. The monastery of Clonbrony existed till
the 1 2th century.
The following quatrain for the feast of St.
Samhthain, is translated from the Feilire of
St. Aengus by O'Curry : —
" For my soul may she have welcome
With the immensity of her hosts,
The beautiful work of God the Creator's hand,
Samhthann of Cluain Bronaigh."
CLOONBROCK; Ct/UAItl t)llOC,* meadow of
badgers.
Cloonbuine; CttlAltl t) tl 1 11 5 e, meadow of
stream ; also btHtltie.
CLOONCAHA ; CttlAltl CAUA, meadow of battle.
Clooncallow; CtUAItl C At A, lawn of the
callow or marsh.
CLOONCAULFIELD; CtUAW CAttilAOlt, Cawel's
lawn.
CLOONCOOSE; CUtAM CUAS, meadow of the
hollows.
CLOONCOWLEY ; CUlAltl CAt>tA1§, meadow of
the fleet boats for the Shannon. — O' Donovan.
* From bfioc, a badger, comes the surname Brogan.
COUNTY LONGFORD.
71
Clooncraff (now Mount Davis); CtU&W
CUOAtfl, lawn of wild garlic.
CneAm, garlic. The liquids sometimes change
in Irish.
CLOONCULLEN; CtUAW COIteAM, Collin's lawn.
Cloondra ; CttlAltl X)S tlAt, the pasturage of
the two forts.
Inquisition taken 27th January, 37th Eliza-
beth, finds here a Hospital, Termon, Irenagh,
with four cartrons of land.
Giolla Airnin O'Casey, Great Priest of CttiAm
t)A \\aty died 1323.
" The Coarb of Clondragh, County Longford,
four cartrons value 9/6 ; the Coarb of Clon-
broney, eight cartrons value 19/6; the Coarb of
Granard, two cartrons value 4/6 ; Coarb of Ard-
agh, two cartrons value 4/9 ; Ballinroddy (in
parish of Abbeylara), County Longford, value 6/9,
were granted in the reign of Elizabeth, under
the Queen's letters, 27th September, XXXI.
of Elizabeth, to George Isham of Brianstown,
County Wexford." — Fiants of Elizabeth.
" One Cartron in Elloghan ; Moneskalligan,
one and a quarter cartrons ; Eterboy, one car-
tron ; Moneerd, one cartron ; Killenbea, one
72
PLACE-NAMES OF THE
cartron ; Clonmokerie, one cartron in the County
Longford and possessions of Monaster Derrig,*
alias Monastereig (40s. 6d.), were granted to
George Isham, 27th September, XXXI. of Eliza-
beth."— Fiants of Elizabeth^ Record Office.
" Surrender of Feghna O'Farrell Boy,f chief
and captain of his nation, of the manors and
lands of Longford, Currigbigge, Rathcalmen,
Ardenragh (now called Ardandra), Clonmore,
Clanawley, Callows, in County Longford, with
the intention of their being regranted him 30th
November, XXIX. of Elizabeth."
The Record does not say that he got them
back ; I incline to think he met with bitter
disappointment. 6 peA^gail, bui*6e, or O'Farrell
the Yellow, held sway over the southern portion
of the County Longford. 6 peafigAit, b-Ati, or
O'Farrell the Fair, ruled the northern half.
CLOONEANY; CttlAltl eAtttlAlt), Enny's
lawn. — (J Donovan.
CLOONEE ; CtUAItt AO'OA, Hugh's lawn.
CLOONELLY; CttlAltl eAttAlg, meadow of
cattle.
This townland is in parish of Dromard.
* Now Abbeyderg-.
t Boy is the Anglicised form of buidhe.
COUNTY LONGFORD.
73
CLOONELLAN ; CUlAltl OlLeAW, lawn of island.
CLOONEEN ; CttlAinTn, little lawn.
Situated in the parish of Scrabby.
Clooneen Beirne; ctti-Ainin bemn.
Clooneen Kennedy; cttiAinin cirmeiTng.
Clooneen Cox; CttlAirritt COH15.
Clooneen Shanly; cVUAitriti seAnt^oic.
CLOONEENA; CLUAW eAtVneAC, ivy meadow.
CLOONEVIT; CVUAItt eblU, Evit's lawn.
CLOONFIN ; cUl^m ponn, fair lawn.
CLOONFINCH; CttKMtl pine, bubbling
lawn. — O Donovan.
CLOONFIDE; CVUAW pi T)e, lawn of brook.
Cloonfinny; CttlAin pintipit), lawn of fine
woods.
CLOONFORE; CtAJA1H potKMtl, lawn of spring.
CLOONGESH ; CVUAW 56IS, lawn of swan.
Clongesh had three cartrons of land, and was
74
PLACE-NAMES OF THE
situated in the ancient territory of qieaje.
There was formerly a church in Clongeish, pro-
bably founded by St. Elither, who was the
founder of this parish. The church had a quar-
ter of a cartron of glebe-land attached. St.
Elither passed out of the memory of the people
and in 1837 Fr. O'Beirne placed the parish
(now Newtownforbes) under the tutelage of the
Blessed Virgin Mary. St. Elither's feast falls
on April 25th.
CLOONGOWNA; CttlAtll SAttltlA, meadow of
calf.
CLOONKER ; CtUAItt Cem, Ker's meadow.
There was buried here a giant whose grave
measures 15 feet long, and the giant's name was
Cei|A, Anglicised Ker. The place is now called
Cloonker (recte Cluainceir).
CLOONKEEN ; CttlAltl CAOW, fine lawn.
Cloonkeel ; CttlAltl CAOt, narrow lawn.
CLOONLARA; CtlJAIII tAtlAC, meadow of
mare.
CLOONLOM ; CttlAM tOtn, bare meadow.
COUNTY LONGFORD.
75
CLOONMACART; CUlAltl tillC A1ttU, MacArt's
lawn.
Cloonmee ; CtUAItl mit)e, meadow in County
Westmeath. — G Donovan.
CLOONMORE ; CttlAltl mOtl, great meadow.
Cloonmuker; CttlAltl tTIOCAItl, Mockar's
lawn. — (J Donovan.
CLOONEAN ; CtUAItl 6At1, birds' lawn.
Cloonoge ; CtUAItl O5, little meadow.
CLOONROLLAGH ; cUlxVm HA1te<\C, meadow of
the oaks.
Omna is another name for an oak and is
derived from fuaim, sound ; omna is found in
the place-name Portumna (pope orntiA), on the
Shannon. This townland is near the town of
Longford.
CLOONSCOTT ; CVUAW SCOU, Scot's lawn.
CLOONSELLAN ; Ct/UAItl SA1teA1t1, lawn of
willow tree.
CLOONSEERIN ; CtUAin Sltlltl, lawn of cherries.
76
PLACE-NAMES OF THE
Cloonshannagh ; cVuaui siormAC, foxes'
meadow.
CLOONTAGH ; CttlAltlueAC, having lawns.
CLOONTAGHMORE ; CttlAtlUAtTlCTIA, great
meadows.
Cloontarmin ; CVUA111 A' ueAtltTIAirm, lawn
of sanctuary or glebe land.
For the non-aspiration of c in genitive mascu-
line see O'Growney, part IV., page 17.
CLOONTIRIM ; CVUAItt U1Rim, dry lawn.
CLOONTUMPER; CVUAItt U10tnCA1tl, carriage
lawn.
CLOONTURK ; CttlAHI C011C, swines' field.
CLOONTUSKERT ; CtUAItt UUA1SC1RC T1A
SI 011 n A, insulated meadow of the Shannon.
There is another place of same name on the
River Suck.
Cloonwheelan ; CVUAW pAOlteAtltl, meadow
of the seagulls.
Situated in parish of Meathustruim, now
Edgeworthstown.
COUNTY LONGFORD.
77
CLOUGH(or Ballynamanagh) ; CtOC, a stone.
Clock is a contraction of Cloch-baile-na-
manach, i.e.y stony place of town of the monks.
There was a small monastery here, a branch
house of the monastery in Abbeylara. It had
six cartrons of land to maintain it, or about six
hundred acres. Inquisition taken 20th March,
XXX of Henry VIII., finds that the tithes of
corn value forty shillings were paid by the rec-
tory of Monkstown to the monastery of Abbey-
lara, in which parish Cloch-baile-na-manach is
situated. The parish of Clough was founded by
St. Da Camog, and the place where he had his
church was called Citt X)& Cam 615, now Angli-
cised Kilcommock. Very little is known about
St. Da Camog. The holy well of the parish is
called Cloughree, or Stone of the King.
CLOUGHERNAL : CtOC C01tl1l6At, corner stone.
This place, in parish of Abbeylara, got its
name from a huge stone of rectangular shape, in
John MacCabe's land ; it was blasted many
years ago for building purposes. In this town-
land is a Druid's Circle, and within a few fields
distant, in Aughnagarron, is a Druid's Altar.
Wilde, the antiquarian, took much interest in
these ancient remains about forty years ago.
73
PLACE-NAMES OF THE
Cluntys; CtUAtlUA, meadows.
CUtanca is nominative plural of cUiain.
Cluntymeelan ; cLtiAinue til <\oi team,
Moylan's lawns.
Clygeen ; cLAlt)5111, little fence.
Clyghill ; CtAOIgOItt (Ctoc-coiU), stony
wood.
Clynan ; CtA1*6ne^H, small mound.
Colehill ; COtt-C01tt, hazel wood.
Colehill was the original name of Hazelhatch,
County Dublin. The most ancient name of
Dublin was X)\\om cott-coitXe, z.e., Mount-hazel-
wood. Colehill is a village in parish of Carrick-
edmond.
Coolamber;* Ctft tUMAItl, back of hill of narrow
channel.
Umair, anciently amor, is probably derived
from amphora, a vessel made of clay. — Stokes.
This townland is in parish of Street.
* In this townland are the ruins of an old castle, convenient
to which is an old cruciform slab on which we read : " Pray
for the soul of Thomas Nugent and Rose Tyrrell his wife
who departed this life 1638."
Rev. John C. Drumgoole,
Founder of the Mission of the Immaculate Virgin, for the
Protection of Homeless and Destitute Children.
COUNTY LONGFORD.
79
Coolarty; CUt eaCATLU'AlS, back of Arty's
hill.
Coolaun ; CULdtl, little back.
C00LBEG ; CUt beAg, little back.
COOLCAUGH ; CtiL C&t&> back of battle hill.
COOLCOR ; CtiL COTl, round back.
COOLCRAFF ; Cflt CtieATh, back of hill of wild
garlic.
This townland is in the parish of Abbeylara,
and was formerly a populous place. All the
tenants — over thirty in number — were evicted
and their land turned into a large ranch. Creamh
is found in many place-names, which shows that
garlic was much in use and well-known in
ancient times.
In Coolcraff (Cut Cfieani), parish of Abbey-
lara, was born in the year 1817 Fr. Drumgoole,
whose work for the Homeless Child has gained
for him the. esteem of thousands, and made him
famous the world over. At a cost of ;£6o,ooo,
all collected by himself, he built, in New York,
U.S. America, a Home to accommodate twelve
8o
PLACE-NAMES OF THE
hundred waifs and strays, who, under his direc-
tion, were taught by competent masters. His
Home has been greatly enlarged and the Mission
now cares for over two thousand homeless and
destitute children. "Father Drumgoole achieved
more in twenty years than many a great society,
with all its influence of numbers and wealth, has
accomplished in a century." — Benziger's Home
Almanac, This good priest, son of an evicted
tenant and an Irish exile, died on 28th March,
1888. ptAice<xf *Oe 50 juib Atge. Amen.
Cooleeny; CtHtltltft, little corners or back
gardens.
COOLEANY ; CUt eAtlAlg, Heny's corner.
COOLNAFINOGE ; Cfit HA piOllOlSe, back of
the hill of the royston crow.
COOLNAHINCH ; CUt HA tl-HISe, back of the
inch.
Columcille; COttltnCltte, church of St. Colum.
Columcille and Granard are the only two
place-names in the County Longford which, as
far as I know, have retained their correct Irish
spelling. The parish of Columcille got its name
COUNTY LONGFORD.
8r
from the church on Inch Mor, Lough Gamhna,
built by or dedicated to St. Columcille, and
called Ueamputt Cotum-citte, and its graveyard
tleitig Cotum-ciUle.
Columcille was the son of Feilmid, who was
the grandson of Conal Gulban, who was the
youngest of the eight sons of Niall of the Nine
Hostages. His great-grand-uncle was Cairbre,
who ruled from the Moat of Granard. His
original name was Crimthon, but because of his
dove-like simplicity and innocence of life he was
given the name Colum (a dove), Cill being added
because of the great number of churches he
founded. At the age of twenty-five he founded
the monastery called Daire-Calgach, or the oak
of Calgach, and from this the City of Derry got
its name, London being prefixed in the reign of
King James. In 550 he founded the Monastery
of Dair-mhagh, i.e., oak plain, now Durrow in
the King's County. In 552 he founded a monas-
tery at Kells ; this place was formerly called
CeAnArmuf mop tia tTli'oe, or the great head
abode of Meath ; hence the Taylor family, who
have their seat near Kells, take the title Head-
ford in the Irish, and Kenlis in the English,
Peerage. He founded also monasteries at Swords.
Raphoe, Drumhome and Tory. " Yielding him-
F
82
PLACE-NAMES OF THE
self up now to the spirit of monasticism which
St. Patrick had breathed over the land, Columba
threw himself heart and soul into the great
work of founding monasteries; and after sixteen
years of unwearied labour, no less than thirty-
seven new foundations could point to him as
their father — no small share, certainly, in that
glorious work which won for Ireland the enviable
title of the 'Thebaid of the West/"
St. Columcille's monasteries were at first struc-
tures of very humble appearance. A church
built with wood and oblong in shape, around
which stood a number of cells for members of
his community and students. These cells were
little wicker houses covered over with clay and
platted over with ever-green ivy. In time stone
supplanted wood ; his present monastery on Inis
mor, Loch Gamhna, was built of solid masonry
which has withstood the wind and the weather of a
thousand years, perhaps much longer. We know
that the first religious institution on Inis mor dates
back almost to the days of St. Patrick, but we
cannot say was that original monastery built of
stone. Many of St. Columcille's monasteries
were built on the banks of rivers on which the
monks had their weir and their watermill. This
monastery was built on an island in a beautiful
COUNTY LONGFORD.
83
lake over which, no doubt, the great apostle,
Columcille, and his levites often fished, an occu-
pation not beneath those holy souls, who studied
Peter, the first great apostle, and ever strove to
imitate him.
Our Saint was a poet, who wrote many pathetic
pieces of poetry, full of love for his dear Erinn
and her monasteries. Here are a few verses
which I take from the " Three Sorrows of Story-
Telling " :—
" The Gael, oh ! the Gael, how the sound of that
name
When I speak it can banish my ruth and my rue 5
Beloved is Cumin of faire-haired fame,
Beloved are Cainneach and Comgall too."
" That spot is dearest on Erin's ground,
For its peace and its beauty I give it my love ;
Each leaf of the oaks around Derry is found
To be crowded with angels from heaven above."
" Beloved are Durrow and Derry to me,
And Drumhome of the fruits of the rich ripe hue,
Beloved Raphoe in its purity,
And Surd* and Cenannas,t I love them too."
These lines show St. Columcille's affection for
his beloved Durrow, Derry, Raphoe, etc. The
* Now Swords, County Dublin. + Irish name for Kells.
84
PLACE-NAMES OF THE
following lines which I take from the Book of
Fenagk, show his affection, greater perhaps, for
that angelic place, the home of St. Caillen.
These are the days of the Irish Revival, these
are the long hours spent by thousands of young
men and women in learning the language of
Ireland, the language of St. Columcille.
Here is the language of St. Columcille, in
which the Saint pours out his affection for his
dear Fenagh : —
Cebub fioitn •oo "oun mbaiti,
1r»AT) uAfwL Aingtitie,
1 fUAjiAf c<v6uf ppi cjiett,
1c Afvo fenoifi nAh-6pinn.
{Translation.)
I bid farewell to Dunbaili
A noble angelic place.
Where I found respect for a while,
With the arch-senior of Erinn.*
Itinitnn tun 1 baite cai*o,
Ocuf itiTftuin a <\ep gpAi*o.
Intiitiin tim <\ ctoc \ a cftArm,
Inriiuw a toe Y A aborm.
* St. Caillen of Fenagh.
COUNTY LONGFORD.
85
Dear to me is the holy town,
And dear its men in grade.
Dear to me its stone, its tree,
Dear its lake and its river.
Inrhuw bm <\ faicci ;
Inrhtnn tim tec* tia n-Ainget;
Inrhum brn 5A6 m<vo arm ;
Inrhtnn <\ rhAj, 9f a penonn.
Dear to me its bright fair-green,
Dear to me the Angel's flag.
Dear to me each spot therein,
Dear its plain and dear its land.
5<\c baib t)A fcpaciif plA™>
1f cjioca tirn x>tm rnbAib.f
tlornij po -oibf Conm<\icm.
Than any place I have ever seen
North and East, South and West.
More choice to me is Dunbaili,
The Conmaicnes' dear burial place.
* The Angel's flag-stone cannot now be identified,
t Dunbaile was an ancient name of Fenagh.
t Name of a place where people of the Roman creed were
interred.
86
PLACE-NAMES OF THE
Concerning St. Columcille's affection for Fenagh
St. Caillen, Bishop of Fenagh in the lifetime of
our Saint, writes : —
"tTlofi qiA m onoiji ocuf in Aifimicw
Ocuf 5^A"6 •oejrni<MfA, cug Cotutn-cilte
fein Wn baite u<\f at Ainglfoe pn
•1. px)tiAc1iA.
(" Great truly was the honor and respect and
excessive love Columcille himself gave to that
angelic place, to wit, Fenagh.")
— Book of Fenagh.
"Columcille uttered the above composition
on one occasion, when bidding farewell to St.
Caillen.* We know from the old M.SS. that he
visited the holy man, Crimther Fraech, in Cloon,
County Leitrim, to bid him the last farewell
before leaving for Iona.
COMAGH; CAtTI triAS, crooked plain.
tTI<i5 is derived from mo, greater; aige, its
racing. Maughera is another term for a plain,
and is derived from magh, and giorra, short, i.e.,
a plain shorter than the m&gh. M&gh is now
Anglicised Moy, v.g., the Moy, County Tyrone,
is in Irish, An tTlAg, Co. Uipe CogAm. M&gh
dumha — Moydow, County Longford. M&gh-
bile — Moville, plain of the tree.
COUNTY LONGFORD.
87
Cornamuckla; COft tlA tntlcLAC, hill of the
piggeries.
Cornapark; COtl tl-d prince, turn of the
pasture field.
Gort means a corn or tillage field ; ub^lX-
gopc, an orchard ; Uib-go^c, a kitchen garden.
CORNEDAN; COtl Att freA'Odltl, pit, well, or
round hill by the brook.
Cornhill (properly Cairn-hill); CAtltl ctdrm
<\OX)&, cairn of the children of Hugh, who were
a sept of the O'Farrells.
It was originally called Sliabh Cairbre. A
cairn is a monument of stones and clay to mark
the place where some warrior was interred.
Owing to its shape it was sometimes called
miscaun ; miscaun Meadhbhe is the name of
the cairn on the hill of Knocknarea, near Sligo.
This cairn is 600 feet in circumference, and
36 feet high. If it were built to commemorate
the famous Queen Meave it must be a cenotaph,
for Queen Meave was buried at Rathcroghan.
Dumha, found in the place-name Moydow, means
a mound or cairn, and was made of a mixture of
clay and small stones, whereas the cairn was
88
PLACE-NAMES OF THE
made of large stones. Cairns were built on
hills, while the dumha is found in low land.
People killed in battle were sometimes buried in
a dumha in the centre of which there was gene-
rally a cist, where the body was placed.
CORNALLEN ; COtl tVAltHlfl, beautiful round
hill. — 0" Donovan.
COROOVAL; COll tit) ALL, round hill of the
apples.
Abhall signifies an apple-tree, but ubhall its
fruit. Apples were as much valued formerly as
at present. On one occasion " St. Patrick was
given a present of golden-yellow apples.,,
"But ah ! in the West* how the apple is fair;
How many a tanist; how many a king;
How many a sloe does the thorn-tree bear;
In the acorned oaks how the young birds sing."
— Songs of St. Columcille.
CORRACORKEA; COtl Ay COtlCAlje, round hill
of the morass.
CoyicAc mop murfiAti (now Cork), means the
great marsh of Munster. This place is in Legan
parish.
CORRINAGH ; COtl etWieAC, ivy cor.
* In Ireland.
COUNTY LONGFORD.
8g
CORABAWN ; COtltlA bdtl, white dam.
Father Dinneen spells coj\<^ a dam.
Corabegs; ce&tn&ii) &x> be^gA, little
quarters.
CORABOLA ; COtlboLAC, hill of the cows.
An ancient name. — O Donovan.
Coradovey ; COtl <&' TitlbUA, pit of the black
clay for colouring.
CORALAUGHA; COH <V tOCA, round hill of the
lake or pond.
CORBAWN ; COtltlA bdtt, white weir.
CORBEG ; COTl bOdg, little round hill.
CORBEIGH ; COn beiU, round hill of the birch
trees.
beiu is the name of the second letter of the
Irish alphabet.
CORBOY; COn btirae, yellow hill.
Corclaragh ; COn Ct<\nAC, a dike with plank
across. — Q* Donovan.
90
PLACE-NAMES OF THE
CORDIVINE; COtl TMUfrin, Devine's round hill.
CORGLASS ; COtl gtAS, green hill.
CORLEA; COn tMU, grey round hill.
CORLISHEEN ; COnn ttSttt, odd little fort.
Corloggan ; COn A* L^J^Itl, round hill of the
cavity.
Cop has many meanings.
Cormaglava; COnn^ ttl1C tAttld, MacGlave's
weir.
Cornacallow; con tt<V COlXXe&X), pit of the
grove or wood.
Coitt, genitive coitte, also coitte<vd in Done-
gal.— Dinneen.
CORNADOOEY; COn WA TttlbCA, hill of the
cauldron. — 0' Donovan.
CoRNADRUNG (in parish of Columcille); COn WA
t)ntliri5e, hill of the tribe or faction.
Drong has the same meaning as the English
word gang.
COUNTY LONGFORD.
91
Cornafunshan ; cor ti a pin ti rise Arm, round
hill of the ash trees.
CORNAGOLAGH; COR 11 A g-COlteAC, round
hill of the wood-cocks.
CORNAHINCH; COtl 11 A Tl-ttlSe, turn of the
island or river bank.
Inif also means distress, misery. — T. Con-
cannon.
CORNAHOO; COtl tlA h-tlAtttie, round hill of
the cave or kiln.
CORRY ; CURRAro, moors.
A townland in parish of Street.
CRANARY ; CRAtlAtAtg, arborous place.
The liquid t takes place of ft,
CRANNCAM (now Kilfintan); CRAtltl CAtH
crooked tree.
Crann dime, sloe-tree ; crann beithe, birch-
tree ; crann &dn, sycamore-tree.
CRANE ; CRAAtl, rock land. — (J Donovan.
CREAGH ; CRtoC, a frontier, a territory.
CRBAGHLAGHTA ; CRtU LeACUA, abounding in
monuments. — ODonovan.
92
PLACE-NAMES OF THE
CREENAGH ; CR1011AC, withered wood.
Creevagh ; CRAOt)AC, bushy land.
Creevaghmore ; CRAOt)AC m6R, great bush
land.
Creevy ; CRAOt)AC, same meaning.
Crieve ; CRAOt), bush land. A large spreading
tree. — (J Donovan.
CROCKAN ; CROC AH, small hill.
In this word fi is substituted for n ; the liquids
sometimes change in Irish. Cnoodn is pronounced
epoetin in Connaught.
CROCKNANESK; CROC ttA tl-eiSC, hillock of
the quagmire.
Situated near the River Inny.
CROCKROOAN ; CROC Rt3At)An, red hillock.
Cross ; CROS * a cross.
CROSSEA ; CROS AO*OA, Hugh's Cross.
A place near Mostrim.
*"In the townland of Cross in Ardagh, County Long-
ford, people performed stations round the pedestal of a cross.
It must have been one of the crosses of the Termon of
Ardagh. " — O Donovan*
COUNTY LONGFORD.
93
CROTT; CtltHU, a hump.
Cfttnc also means a harp ; the cruit had six
strings of catgut ; the cldirseach had strings of
brass wire.
CROWCOR ; CtlOt) COfttl, odd shed.— 0" Donovan.
CROWDRUMAN; CUtlAt) X)KOm Ainu, hard
ridge.
CRUCKAN ; CROC411 * a hillock.
CRUCKANBAWN ; CROC^tl X)4X\, white hillock.
CRUCKROOEY; CROC RXIAX), red hill.
CUILMORE; Ctht, thotl, large corner.
CUINEREEN ; CtMH1C1tleTl1, small rabbit
warren.
This place is in parish of Columcille.
CULDONEY (in parish of Abbeylara); Ctil T)Ottl-
11A15, back of hill of church. — O9 Donovan.
CULLENMORE; COlVtftl RIOTl, little wood (big^
i.e., big trees.
* Cjtoc&n, a crock, by a figure of speech called metathesis
becomes coficAti, a pot.
94
PLACE-NAMES OF THE
CULNAGORE; CtlL TiA tl-5<dbAR, back of hill
of the goats.
Culoge ; CUL65, little back.
One who rides behind another on horseback.
CULLENBOY; COltUn btll'Oe, yellow little
wood.
CULLENCRUBAGH ; COlttftl CfttibAC, little
wood of the talons. — O* Donovan.
CULLENTROUGH ; CtHteAtiri UtlAC, land
abounding in holly.
CULLYFODDA ; C01tt fxVOA, long wood.
CULNACARROW ; COitt WA COftKAt), wood of
the weir.
Culray ; COitt tlglt>e, wood of the moorland.
CURRAROE ; COTttlAC tltlAt), red moor.
CURRAGH, THE ; AW COtltlAC, the marshy place.
This town land is in parish of Abbeylara.
CURRAGHDIVE ; CORRAC Dtllt), black moor near
Clonfin, in parish of Granard,
COUNTY LONGFORD.
95
CURRAGHMORE ; CORRAC ttlOR, large moor.
CURREEN ; CORRAlCTtt, small moor.
Curry; CURRA1t>, low land.
CURRYCARROW ; CORA §Atlt), rough weir.
CURRYCAHILL ; CORRAC CAUAlt, Cahill's moor;
also spelled Cujijuc.
Cathail is derived from catk, a battle, and ail,
a rock. Cathail then means rock of battle.
CURRYGRANN ; CURRAC gRAtlftA, ugly moor.
5jiAnti4 is indeclinable ; up-j^Anna, very ugly.
Currygranny; ctiRRAit) ^Re^rm Ai§e,
gravelly moors. — 0 'Donovan.
Currack originally meant a race-course; the
Curragh of Kildare, formerly known as Cuirrech
Liffe, was the field of sports belonging to the
royal fort of Dun Aillinne, one of the palaces of
the Kings of Leinster.
CUSSAN ; CASAtl, pathway.
ALYSTOWN ; t)A1te
til 'OAtAlg ; p<Mftc n<x
CA^Aige, or Rockfield,
was the former name of
this place.
t)poice<vo Hi
or, in English, Daly's
Bridge (now Mount Nugent), was Anglicised
by the Nugents, who were created Lords of
Dealbhna Mor, now Delvin, in the end of the
1 2th century. The Nugents got possessions in
Longford and Cavan in the reign of Elizabeth,
DAROGE ; TX&HO5, where young oaks grow.
There are three diminutive terminations in
Irish: in, -dn, 65; the two latter have nearly lost
their diminutive force.
96
PLACE-NAMES.
97
Deanscurragh ; ctniftAC a' T>eini5.
The article is used before surnames in Irish
when not preceded by a Christian name. — Chris-
tian Brother sy Grammar, p. 193.
Deerpark ; pA1RC HA ttpiAt), park or field of
the deer,
Dermot's Church; ueAtnputt 'oiAtirriA'OA,
St. Diarmaid's Church on Inis Clothrann in
Loch Ribh (Ree).
Diarmaid is derived from diy a privative
particle, and airmit, injunction, i.e.s there is no
injunction on him. — Cor. Glossy or from X)ia,
God, and armaid, arms. — O'Hart. Jeremiah
and Darby are Anglicised forms of Diarmaid.
Darby is common in Limerick ; Jeremiah, in
Kerry. St. Diarmaid, patron of Inis Clothrann,
lived about 540; he was descended from Dathy,
King of Ireland, who was killed in 427. His
mother — "the mother of many saints" — was
grand-daughter of Dubtach, King Laoghaire's
chief poet, who received St. Patrick when he
preached at Tara. One of St. Diarmaid's pupils
was St. Ciaran, who founded Clonmacnoise,
and from this it is clear that the church of Inis
Clothrann is older than those of Clonmacnoise.
G
98
PLACE-NAMES OF THE
St. Diarmaid's church measures only eight feet
by seven ; it is considered one of the smallest
churches in Ireland, and is the oldest on the
island.
Derryart ; T)Ome AtlU, Art' s oak.
Derragh ; T)01tie eAC, wood of the horses.
DERRYADD ; T)01tie pADA, long wood.
C? Donovan makes t)oipe feminine, and, there-
fore f is aspirated.
DERRYARD ; T)Ome high wood.
DERRYARROW ; t)Ome COttAt), wood of weir.
DERAWLEY ; Dome AThtAOIt), Auliff's oak.
The oak was considered the first of trees and
its bark was used for tanning purposes. If any-
one injured the bark of another man's oak, a
fine was inflicted, and the injury should be
repaired with an application of plaster made of
cows' droppings and sweet milk. If he took as
much bark from his neighbour's oaks as would
tan a cowhide, he should compensate the injured
man with a pair of boots.— Joyce,
COUNTY LONGFORD.
99
Derrybeagh ; T)01tie t>eite, wood of birch.
Derrybeg ; T)011ie tteAg, little oak wood.
DERRYBLISK ; t)Ome t)t01SCe, noisy wood.
From btoifc comes the word bluster, to make
noise, to bully.
DERRYCARN ; T)Ome CAtttl, literally, oak wood
of mounds.
DERRYCASSAN; T)01tie CASAItl, path
through derry, or T)01tie AH CASA1H, Cassan's
wood. — (J Donovan.
DERRYDARAGH ; T)01tie ^AtlAC, oak grove.
DERRYDIFF ; T)01He AH 'OAlril, wood of the ox.
Derryeagh ; T)ome eAC, wood of the horses.
DERRYGARIFF ; T)01tie jAUt), rough derry.
DERRYGEEL; T)01tie 5Aet)eAt, Irishman's
wood — 0' Donovan.
We are called Gaels from Gaoidh-glas, who was
the son of Niul, who was the son of Gadel, who
100
PLACE-NAMES OF THE
was associated with Phaenius Forsaidh, or the
Sage, in the invention of letters. " From Phaenius
a branch of our tongue is yet called Bearia
Phaeni, or the language of Phaenius ; but it is
more generally named Gaoidhealag, or (as pro-
nounced) Gailag, from the above Gadel." — O'Hal-
loran.
"Dr. Creagh, Archbishop of Armagh, who
was confined for his religion in the Tower of
London, where he died, A.D. 1587, in his Irish
Grammar affirms cthat the Irish language was
the only one spoke by the natives from the
coming of Partholan, three hundred years after
the flood, to this day.'" — OHalloran.
Derryglosh; t)oitie gUvise, wood of the
streamlet.
DERRYGOWNA; *001tie 5AtilHA, wood of the
calf.
5<xrhAiTi, derived from Gam, November, means
a year-old calf at November.
DERRYHARROW; T)01Re CAIlt), wood of
bulls. — O'Donovan.
Derryhanmore ; T)011ie AtAW tnOR, under
wood (big).
COUNTY LONGFORD.
IOI
Derryheelan; T)01tie C&Ot&in, Keelan's
wood.
Derryholm; T)01lie COItm, Colm's
wood. — CP Donovan.
DERRYLAHAN : t)01tie teAtAtl, broad wood.
Derrylaugher ; T)Ome CtO&AItt, stony wood.
Clock means a detached rock.
DERRYLIAGH ; T)011ie tlAt, grey wood.
DERRYLOUGH; T) 01 tie IOC 4, wood of the
lake. — G Donovan.
Derrymacar; 1301fie IT11C ceAKA, MacCarr's
oak wood.
Derrymany ; T)01tie tn<Mfl>A15, oak wood of
monk.
Manach, a monk, is derived from mo (old
Irish), a person, and aonacky alone. — Bourke.
Manack, from the Latin monachus. — Cor. Gloss.
DERRYMORE; ID 01 tie tfl OR, great wood.
102
PLACE-NAMES OF THE
Derrynabuntel ; T) 01 tie riA bpomue^t,
Payntle's wood. — O Donovan.
Derrynaclough ; 1301116 tlA Ctoice, wood
of the stone.
Derrynacreagh ; x)ome n-A ctioice, wood
of the cross.
DERRYNACRIT; t)Ome 11 A CRtHU, wood of the
humps or eminences.
Derrynacunagh ; T)ome wa cornice, wood
of the rabbits.
derrynagease ; t)ome x\a geise, wood of
the swan.
This townland is on the shores of Loch
Ribh (Ree).
Derrynagoliagh ; T)oirte riA gcoiteAC,
derry of the wood-cocks.
The article eclipses the initial consonant of
a noun in the genitive plural (both genders),
and c is eclipsed by 5. — Christian Brothers'
Grammar.
Derrynagrann ; t)ome 114 gctiArm, oak
wood of the trees. — 0" Donovan,
COUNTY LONGFORD.
103
derrynameehan ; T)oittin tn rhiAXMCAiri,
O'Meehan's wood.
DERRYNAMODDY ; T)01tie tTA tTIA'OAIT), dogs'
wood.
DERRYNASKEA; TDOItie 11 A SCe^C, wood of
the thickets or white thorn.
Derrynavogy; T)011flfn A'toOgAlj* little wood
of the quagmire.
Derryneal ; DOIRe neitt, O'Neill's wood.
Derryoughill ; T)01tie eoCAItt, wood of yew
tree.
Derryshanoge; T)ome-AtA-seA5Ain O15,
wood of ford of young John. — (J Donovan.
DERRYWEELAN ; T)01tie pAOlteAtltl, wood of
the sea-gulls.
CfGrowney's part ln page 63, shows the w
sound in p AoiLeArm. Oy Donovan's etymology —
*Ooi|Ae til 401 tain, ue.f Moylan's oak wood, is, I
* In the parish of Scrabby (ScjieAbAc, rough land), County
Cavan, is a place called Derrynaferst COoifte ha peijifue),
which means oak wood of the ford, fre^f at>, the nominative
of |?ei|tfre, means also a passage across the strand at low
water. t)e-At peifvpce (now Belfast), mouth of ford.
104
PLACE-NAMES OF THE
think, not correct. This place is on the shores
of Lough Gowna, where sea-gulls are always to
be seen in large numbers, flying about, and hence
I give the first explanation as the correct one.
1f iomt)A fAoiteArm seat,, '^tif An t<\ irroiu, te
feicfinc.<yg yri&m aji An tiifce, no a^ eiceAttAij
o cfiAnn 50 cjwm m fAn aic 6eAf £oU,Ain. Clon-
wheelan, in County Longford, is an example of
a similar formation.
DOONACURRY; A' CtltlAlt), fort of the
hero.
DOOROCK ; T)tlt)tlAC, black rock.
DOORY ; T)tlt)tlA1$e, black land.
DRINAGH; TUlOlgtieAC, abounding 111 black-
thorn.
Drinan ; T)R015neA11, same meaning.
Cnoc ah *ofioi<5neAin (Johnston's Bridge, County
Leitrim), hill of the blackthorn.
Dring ; 'OTttUng, a tribe, a faction.
DRUMANURE ; X)tltlim All 1Ut)A1tl, ridge of the
yew tree.
COUNTY LONGFORD.
DRUMARD ; T)tltntr) AtVO, high ridge.
DRUM bad; T)tltl1tn t>A1T), ridge of long
hill. — 0' Donovan.
Drumbawn ; T)tltlim t>A11, white ridge.
Aw y eafi ban (Ferbane, King's County), the
white grass or lea.
DRUMDERG ; T)Tttlim T)6Aft5, red ridge.
Druimdearg is the ancient name of Drumcliff,
in the barony of Carbury, County Sligo.
DRUMEEL ; T)tUlim ttlAOt, bare ridge.
Drumeen ; T)tltlimin, little ridge.
Father Dinneen gives T)fiom, meaning ridge.
DRUMHALDRY; T)lltlim CAttlA1§e, Calry's
ridge.
Druming ; T)tltlim ing, Ing's ridge.— Cf Donovan.
DRUMLISH ; T)Rtl1tn t1S, ridge of fort.
In modern Irish the genitive of tiof is te<\p\;
*Ofiom teif, sheltered hill side.
Drumlohera; T)Rtlim ttlACtlAC, ridge of
rushes.
Drummon ; 'ORtimAinri, extended ridge.
io6
PLACE-NAMES OF THE
DRUMMURY; 'Otttnm lUtmAlge, ridge of yew
tree.
DRUMNACOOHA; Wttlim tl-A Ctl^ice, ridge of
the cuckoo.
e<xnt<MC ftKMfic aj; ceiteAbAji Ann,
'SAn cuac 50 ceoVbmn Ann 5A6 ajvo."
"Pleasant birds were warbling there,
And the sweet toned cuckoo on every side."
— Ossianic Poem*.
The cuckoo is a bird of migratory habits ; she
returns to this country in Spring. Her tuneful
note is heard earlier in the barony of Middle-
third, County Tipperary, than in other parts of
Ireland. The female cuckoo does not build her
own nest, but lays her eggs in the nest of the
xjtAfoj;, or water wag-tail. — Transacts, of Gaelic
Society.
Drumnacorra; Tttitntn n<\ cotirt<y6, ridge of
the weir.
DRUMNACHREER;* T)tltlim ViA CtllAUATL,
back of the sieves.
People are Anglicising this place-name very
much.
* One mile north-west of Sheemore, in parish of Kiltog-hert,
County Leitrim, is a townland called Sheffield, i.e., sieve field
(s slender pronounced sh\ which is the translation of CaoIo-
541-6 CftiAtAfi, its original name. — O* Donovan.
COUNTY LONGFORD.
107
Drumnahara; *OTUnm HA tl-6AtltlAt>, ridge
of the wares.
DRUMNACROSS; T)tUnm 11A CROISe, ridge of
the cross.
DRUMNEE ; T)tUlim nigte, washing ridge.
This place is to the north of Saints' Island, in
Loch Ribh (Ree).
Drumroe; T>tltnm ttUA'O, red ridge.
T>]itMm *6a eiciA|i (now Dromahair, County
Leitrim), ridge of the two demons, also called
Bally O'Rorke, because 6 tluaijic built his best
castle there, on the banks of the Bonet (buAnaic,
M.s ever-flowing) river, close by the "Valley
lay smiling before me."
DRUMURE; T)TUIim 1tltM1tl, ridge of the yew
tree.
DRUMSALAGH ; T)RUim SAlteAC, ridge of the
willow trees.
Dunamerin; t)un rne^tt^c^ri, fort of
the foxglove.
DUNBEGGAN; T)l3in be^J^HI, Beggan's fort.
The Catholic Church of Dunbeggan is built
on Beggan's fort.
io8
PLACE-NAMES OF THE
DUNPHILIP ; T)Un pitlb, Philip's fort.
In the belfry of Dunbeggan Chapel is a very
ancient bell; it originally belonged toCeAmpuU,
CottiTnciVte, or St. Columcille's Monastery, on
Inch Mor, Lough Gowna. After the dissolution
of this monastery, about 1 540, the bell was taken
away by the Protestants, but it was brought back,
or, as the people of the parish of Columcille
say, " it came back." Again it was taken away,
and the tongue taken out of it, but again it
was brought back. Fearing it would disappear
again, Peter Mulligan and Julia Sullivan, his
wife, who lived on the island, rolled it up in a
piece of frieze, seven yards long, they say, and
buried it deep in the ground, where it lay con-
cealed till the days of persecution had passed
away. About sixty years ago one of the Mul-
ligans, Tom, on his death bed, told Father
Monahan, the then curate of Columcille, where
the bell lay concealed. He, with some diggers,
at once repaired to the spot and immediately
unearthed it; then arose a sharp contention
between the people of the two divisions of the
parish as to the ownership of the bell, but
the Parish Priest settled the dispute by placing
it in the belfry of Dunbeggan Chapel.
COUNTY LONGFORD.
109
The following is a fac-simile of an inscription
found on this very ancient bell : —
T>m* RlSCQROJQy.
To interpret this ancient inscription a Mr. Coyle,
who was then reputed the best Irish scholar in
the neighbourhood, was sent for. This is his
translation: — "Chief Church of the travelling
teacher or missioner."
DANMORE; e#0&1) tTIOR,
great brow of hill ; e<vo<\n also
means the forehead.
In Corraac's Gloss. e<vo<\n is
derived from the old Irish 6
dind; "e dind in chind? the
shelter of the head.
EDANBAWN ; eATWI t)At1, white brow of hill.
Edera ; O£T)01lfcA, central place.
e-<voo}\CA is a prepositional pronoun, and lite-
rally means between them ; also e<vof\<\.
Ederland ; eiX)m Olte^n, isolated land.
Edgeworthstown or Mostrim; rna&ttis
utunm Cotitmn).
In this place-name c takes the place of t> ; the
same occurs in the word Leitrim : t,iac cjitnm, grey
ridge. Meathustruim means the fertile ridge,
no
PLACE-NAMES.
Ill
Enaghan ; OAtlACAtl, marshy land.
ENNY3EGS; eAtlAlg DeAJA, little marshes.
Ernehead; ceAnn etitiA.
Lough Erne is supposed to have got its name
from Erna, one of Queen Meadhbh's attendants,
who was drowned there. The more ancient
name of the lake and river was Samhaoir. Par-
tholan was one of the first inhabitants of this
country; he landed on an island below the
waterfall (Assaroe) at Ballyshannon. Here, in
a fit of jealousy with his wife, he killed her
faithful hound, called Samhaoir, and the island,
the River Erne and Lough Erne were for ages
afterwards known by the name Samhaoir, and
the waterfall at Ballyshannon was called An
c-SArhAoip. Afterwards it came to be known by
the name Assaroe, or, in Irish, 6<xf Ao*6 tluAi'd,
z.e.y Red Hugh's waterfall. This Hugh was
King of Ireland and was drowned here in the
River Erne : —
" Or where the sunny waters fall
At Assaroe, near Erna's shore."
Another explanation is that in the reign of
Fiachadh, a descendant of Tighernmas, the
112
PLACE-NAMES OF THE
idolater, Loch Erne burst forth and submerged
a large tract of land, the property of the
Ernians, who were of the Firbolgic tribe, and
from them it took the name Erne. O'Donovan,
who travelled through County Longford, in
connection with the Ordnance Survey, in 1837,
states in his MSS. that the lord of the soil
intended to change the name Loch Gamhna to
Erne Head Lake. The landlord's able coad-
jutor in this matter was Parson Dopping, wTho
called his place (near the lake) "Erne Head."*
But the parson is gone, and the power of the
landlord is gone, and Loch Gamhna remains
Loch Gamhna.
ESK ; eiSC, a quagmire.
ESKIR ; eiSCItl, a ridge of mounds or sand-hills.
Conn the Hundred-Fighter, in the first cen-
tury of the Christian era, became engaged in a
great war with Eoghan Mor, King of Munster.
By the advice of friends the two Kings came
to a compromise and agreed to divide Ireland
between them, the northern half to be called
* The reason for the proposed change would be that there
is a winding river connecting the two lakes, and that, there-
fore, as the waters of Loch Erne come from Loch Gowna, the
latter is the source or fountain-head of the former.
COUNTY LONGFORD.
113
Leath Cuin, or Con's Half, and the southern
portion Leath Mogha, or Eoghan's Half. For
a dividing line they fixed on a natural ridge of
low hills extending from baite-Aca-cliac, or
Dublin, to Galway Bay, and this ridge they
called Eiscir-Riada.
man going to the lis had to cross the rath.
Outside the rath, and at some distance from it,
was the sonnach, which consisted of a fence of
strong stakes ; beyond the sonnach was a com-
mons open to all, called the f <vicce. The fahey
extended as far as the crowing of a cock could
be heard, or the sound of a small bell; tech-
nically it meant the four fields nearest the
house. — 0 'Donovan. Sheep were generally kept
grazing on the faithche) if a swarm of bees were
found on it, the three-fourths of the honey
belonged to the owner of the faithche. On the
faithche outside a brewy or public hostel, burned
114
PLACE-NAMES.
"5
a light at night, to show people the way to the
brewy.
Fallan River; At)Airm ha £AttAinne,
river of the cloak. — 0' Donovan.
Fallainn is derived from fail, a circle, because
the cloak goes round the body; the fullainn was a
loose cloak coming to the knees ; lummon is a name
for a cloak of coarse material. On the banks of
the Shannon, where now is the city of Limerick
were men standing when suddenly the tide
rose and swept away their lummons, and from
this the city and county of Limerick get their
name. — Dinnsenchus. In the old MSS. the gar-
ment worn by our Lord was called a matal.
Cuculainn is described as wearing a cloak or
brat of bluish crimson, trimmed with silver of the
purest white.
Fallan Bridge ; T)ROiCeAT) ti A pAtUvirme.
Up to the 1 2th century bridges were made of
wood, hence the derivation given of droichead is
droc, bad, and shet, a road, i.e., a bad or dangerous
road compared to a road made on dry land.
*OpoiceA,o-ACA, bridge of the ford, i.e., the Boyne,*
now Drogheda, County Louth.
* The fairy precinct, Trinity Well, burst forth in pursuit of
the goddess Boand, who had insulted it, and the river which
its waters formed is now called the Boyne, derived from
Boinde, the genitive of Boand. — Rhys, from the Book of Lcinster.
Il6 PLACE-NAMES OF THE
Fardromin ; peAtl T)tltimAn, grassy ridge.
FARMULLAGH ; pAtltntlttAC, top of summit.
FARNA ; peAtttlAC, abounding in alder trees.
FARRANAHILL; peAtlAlHI HA Cltte, church
land.
Farranyoogan ; peAtiArm ui ftuttASAin,
O'Duggan's land.
FARRAGHROE ; pAtltlAC tltSAt), red hill.
FOSTRA ; £ASUtlAC, a wilderness.
FERMOYLE ; pAtltTIAOlt, round hill.
Fermoyle O'Farrell ; pAtltttAOIt ttf f eAtl-
$Alt, O'FarreH's round hill.
6 peA^gait was written 6 Pfigit in Tir-
chonaill, and is now Anglicised Freel without
the prefix 6. — O'Donovan. The 6 Domhnaill
of Tirchonaill was inaugurated by Freel,
OFearghail. The inaugurator was given the
rich dress worn for the first time by the new
king ; his charger, also, with all his trappings.
FERRAFAD ; pgAtlAC pAT)A, long pastures.
COUNTY LONGFORD.
117
FERSKEL ; A t)£eiTLSCltt, grassy field.
Part of this townland is now Anglicised Moss-
vale ; it is in parish of Granard.
FlENRAGH ; potltlAtrttAC, fair hill.
FlHORAGH ; £A1UCOtlAC, plain of grey colour.
FlHOGES ; ttA pAlteCgAI'Oe, little green lawns.
This is the diminutive of faithche.
FINNS, The ; ttA piOttttA, white lands.
FlSHERSTOWN; t)Alte AH UUAItl, town of
bleaching.
There was formerly a bleach mill here.
FORAUN ; £t!AtlA11, cold spring.
Derived from fUAfi, cold.
FORGNEY ; piOtlgtlAlt), an edifice.
St. Munis, brother of St. Mel, of Ardagh, and of
St. Rioc, of Inchboffin, was Bishop of Forgney.
"There is a good station down below there,"
said St. Patrick, pointing out Forgney to St
Munis. It was St. Patrick's opinion that there
would be more souls going to heaven from
St. Munis' church at Forgney than if he were to
set up, as it appears he wished, "on the high
n8
PLACE-NAMES OF THE
hill yonder," perhaps Bri Leith, near Ardagh.
" The lake near it — Forgney," said Munis, 11 will
be troublesome ; I shall have no peace there ; the
warriors passing there with their shouts and
their tumult, will leave no life in me." It would
seem there was a much frequented pass across
the river at Forgney; and the "lake" was a
watering place, and, perhaps, a camping place
for the hosts of Meath.* Thereupon Patrick
removed the difficulty by his prayers. "The
lake of Forgney disappeared, and it is now
Loch Croni, in Hy-Many." — Dr. Healy.
St. Munis' feast falls on 18th December, but
he is now no longer remembered. The ruins of
the old church stand in the townland of Forgney.
The holy well there, strange to say, bears the
name of St. Patrick — not St. Munis. — G Donovan.
FORTHILL ; pUACtlAlVL— 0' Donovan.
FOXHALL ;f tlAU tUAtXAC, grey fort.
The O'Farrells had a castle here. According
to O'Donovan St. Eiche, who was sister of St.
* " Ancient Meath extended from the River Shannon to the
sea." — 0' Donovan.
f The remains of an ancient and handsome church can still
be seen in the private grounds of the Fox family, who are now
the local landlords. This family changed its Irish name at
the time of the so-called Reformation.
COUNTY LONGFORD.
Mel, and whose church stood in the townland of
Kilglass — Citt meaning church — was patroness
of Rathriabhach. Her feast is honoured on
5th August. Kilglass is in the parish of Legan.
Foyagh ; pxMUCe, exercise ground.
Fraughan; pUAOCAtl, whortle-berry or bil-
berry.
The Danes brewed a kind of beer from the
whortle-berry.
Freehalwan; pRAOC CotmAItt, Colman's
heath.
" Cluain Fraoich, near Strokestown, in County
Roscommon, was the name of the palace of the
O'Conor family, kings of Connacht down to the
16th century." — Oy Curry.
Freaghmeen ; ptiAOC mill, small heath.
Freaghnamoddy ; ptlAOC 114 1T1AT)At>, dog-
heath.
This place is now known by the fancy name
Chancery, and is in the parish of Street.
ALID; gAttAVO, a standing
stone, a pillar-stone.
These stones were so called
because they were erected
by the Gauls. It is said that
an old Gaul named Failbe was the first to set
up pillar-stones as boundary marks in ancient
Erinn. They were erected also over the graves
of pagans, and used to mark the boundary of
glebe lands. There was a skirmish here in 1798,
Galid contains two cartrons of land, or about
200 acres, and formed part of the manor of
Granard, upon which Malby, in the reign of
Elizabeth, laid a tribute of 120 beeves. Legann
is another name for a pillar-stone.
Garrandrew ; gAtlftAI'Oe AltTOtllti, Andrew's
garden.
120
PLACE-NAMES.
121
GARRANBOY ; 5AtlttAt1 tDtnfte, yellow copse.
Garrycam; 5AtiriA1,oe CAttl, crooked garden
or potatoe field.
Garryconnell ; SAfttmA COtlAItt, Connell's
garden.
GARRYNAGH; 5AtlttAlt>e tV eAC, field of the
horses.
Oac means a horse of good quality, a steed ;
etc fiAif, a race-horse.
GARVAGH ; 5Atlt) ACAt), rough field or plain.
Ac<v6 generally occurs as a prefix.
Garvary ; JARt) A1R6, rough land.
The River Goronne is said to be derived from
5<x]Vb, rough, and Ab<\irm, a river, z.e.y rough river.
Garrowhill ; JARt) C01tt, rough wood.
Gelshagh ; 5AlttS6AC, an earwig or black
insect. — 0" Donovan.
Gelshagh, Molly, and the other high lands
to the north of the barony of Granard were
formerly called Sliabh-Cairbre.
Gaige ; 56A5 or 56115, a branchy place.
122
PLACE-NAMES OF THE
GLACK ; 5tA1C, a hollow place
Glanboy ; SteAtin t)tllt)e, yellow glen.
Glen ; gteAnn, a valley.
Glenanaspick ; gteAtin ha n-eAspOg, glen
of the bishops.
Easpog is the Latin word episcopus Gaelicised.
Glenanaspick contains a churchyard in which,
O'Donovan says, four bishops were interred.
Glenanaspick, or Glen, as it is now called, had four
cartrons, or about 500 acres, of church land. The
continual use of this place-name in its contracted
form will, if it has not already done so, obscure
the tradition regarding the bishops. Glenanas-
pick is in parish of Ardagh.
GLENAWOE ; gteAnn tIA mt)0, valley of the
cows.
This is a little valley through which a river
flows dividing Cloughernal from Creevy, in the
parish of Abbey lara. The name is now com-
monly applied to a spring well in that valley.
GLENMORE ; gteAnn mOtl, large glen.
COUNTY LONGFORD.
123
GLENNAGH; gteAtin eAC, glen of horses.
GLENOUGHILL ; SteAtltl eOCAltt, glen of yew
tree.
GOBROOA ; got) tttl AT), red point.
Gob literally means the bill of a bird.
Golatnave ; gAttAt A U-SttAtilA, forked place
of the swimming.
This is the name of a place on the shore of
the beautiful Loch Gamhna, where formerly
there was much bathing. T)fU}im piArha (now
Drumsna, in County Leitrim), swimming ridge;
Lixnaw (Le^c fnAtri<\), flag-stone of swimming.
Gortaclare ; 50RU A CtAltl, field of the plank
for crossing.
Gortahirke; gOtlU A COIRCe, field of the
oats.
Gortnaniske ; 50RU ha n-eisce, field of tne
river or quagmire.
Jopc means a plot of ground fenced and
cultivated.
124
PLACE-NAMES OF THE
Gortakinny; gOtlU field abound-
ing in gorse.
GORTAURD ; gOtlU AtlT), high field.
Gortboy ; 50RC tDtntte, yellow field.
GORTEEN ; gtimcTn, little field.
This place was originally called pope An S111!1"
an, and is situated in the parish of Clonbroney.
It was formerly in the territory of Clanshane.
" According to an inquisition taken the tenth
year of James I., Portanghuirteen contained
two cartrons of land. Brian O'Farrell was slain
at the island of Portanghuirteen in 1443." — Four
Masters. Clan-Shane, the descendants of
SeagAn 6 peAfigAil, owned Cairbre Gabhra,
which was the ancient name of the barony of
Granard and the Castle of Granard. Clan-
Hugh, a sept of the OTarrells, owned territory
corresponding to the barony of Longford.
Pierce MacCraidin, Dean of Clan-Hugh, died
1 512. — Four Masters.
Clan-Auliff possessed territory now known as
the barony of Moydow. Abbeydearg, and the
churches of Kilashee and Moydow belonged to
them.
COUNTY LONGFORD.
125
Gorteenaglune ; gtnRuiri tiA glume, little
field of the knee.
" St. Patrick impressed his knee on a stone
here."
GORTEENACLAREEN ; gtHtlUltl A CtAIRItl, little
field of the plank.
GORTEENGAR; gtHRUItl geARR, short little
field.
GORTEENACLOON ; gtHRUin HA SCttlAltl, little
garden of the lawns.
GORTLAGHAN ; gORU teACAtl, broad field,
GORTNACORRA ; gORU tIA CORAt), field of the
weir.
A fishing weir was often owned by a whole
pne, or tribe.
GORTNACURRAGH ; JORU tIA g-CtlRRAC, field
of the curraghs.
Gortnagower; 50RC tIA tlgAttAR, field of
the goats.
Gortnamuck; 50RC tIA mtIC, field of the
pigs.
126
PLACE-NAMES OF THE
Gowlan ; 5At)tAtl, a forked place.
GOWN a; SAttltlA, this is the genitive case of
54th aw, which means a calf.
The Post-office authorities having put up the
name Gowna over the Post-office in the village of
Scrabby (recte, Screabach — 01 Donovan), County
Cavan, the village is now known by that pseu-
donym.
According to O'Donovan the village of Scrabby
is very ancient. It was originally called (as
given by Lewis in corrupt English) Ballimac-
kelleny, and in the year 183 1 contained forty
human habitations, and 183 souls.
Mananan MacLir, the Neptune of the Irish,
lived, it is said, in his palace at Lake Enniskeen,
in County Monaghan. On getting some un-
pleasant news from St. Columcille he left the
country. He was succeeded by MacMirneanta,
who was chief of the Ulster fairies. This gentle-
man selected for his ciji n<\ n-65 the hill of
Ballimackelleny, now the hill of Scrabby, in
County Cavan. — Transactions of Ossianic Society.
Gamkain, a year-old calf in the month of Gam
(November), after Samhuin (Hallowtide). Garnh-
nach*%. milking-cow with a year-old calf. Novem-
* Camhnach also means a stripper cow.
From Photo by]
lot gAttitiA (Lough Gowna).
[Rev. J. MacGivney.
COUNTY LONGFORD.
127
ber got the name Gam from the Greek 7^09 (a
wedding), because it was a fashionable time
with the ancients to marry {mulieres ducere).
The Attic month (latter half of January and the
beginning of February), got the name Yajwpiiwv,
for the same reason. Loch Gamhna is about
six miles long and varies from a half to three
miles in width. It is a very irregular sheet of
water, winding round the dense woods, which
contribute very much to its scenery. About a
mile to the north of Inchmore is a small island
called Jasper, because stones of the jasper kind
were found there. Sailing one Sunday evening
to this island, I examined a stone I got there,
and found it of a siliceous nature, remarkably
hard and heavy. When the lake rises this
island cannot be seen. This lake, partly in the
barony of Clanmahon, but for the most part in
the barony of Granard, divides the parish of
Columcille — more correctly, Columcille West —
from Columcille East, now better known as
parish of Scrabby. It is worthy of note that,
up to the days of Dr. Kilcfuff, former Bishop of
Ardagh, this parish was known only by the
former name. Streams which rise immediately
north of Granard, flow into Loch Gamhna,
which sends its superfluous waters through the
128
PLACE-NAMES OF THE
Erne, into the ocean at Ballyshannon (recM,
Beal-atha-Seanaighy i.e.> mouth of ford of fox);
while streams which rise in and south of Granard
flow southwards, into the Inny, which empties
itself into the Shannon, which discharges itself
into the ocean at Limerick. This shows, as will
be seen, that Granard is, as the name implies,
high ground.
Graffog ; grubbed land.
This townland is in the parish of Ardagh;
there is another townland of the same name, and
having the same meaning, in parish of Granard,
near Clonbroney.
Greagh ; gtieAC, a mountain flat.
GRANARD; StlAtlAtlT) or 5tl4tttlA>0, ugly height;
or, as Dr. O'Connor interprets it, gpeitie &po,
hill of the sun.
" The castles of Nobber, Drogheda, and Gra-
nard (the latter built by Tuite in 1199 or 1200),
all with lofty motes, were well placed to defend
the northern frontier of the province. The large
mote marks the site of Tuite's castle at Granard,
where he entertained King John on the 12th
August, 1 2 10." — Journal of Royal Society of
Antiquarians.
COUNTY LONGFORD.
129
From an old tradition woven into poetry and
printed a few hundred years ago, it is known
that the more ancient name of Granard was
Meathuslith ; Meathus (pronounced Mahus)
meaning fertile in reference to the land, as it
does in the place-name Mostrim (Meathustruitn).
It appears from this tradition* that Conal Gul-
ban, the youngest son of Niall the Great, was to
get all the country round Granard ; but the
Druids, having held a consultation, decided in
favour of Cairbre, the eldest son of Niall
" Conal Gulban's eyes with joy grew bright,
That soon with tears were dim,
When he was told by an ollave old,
That Meathuslith plain was not for him.
" On Gartan mountain, barren and high,
That rises straight as a wall,
On a rising mound his castle frowned
In northern Donegal."
Etc., etc.
Whatever truth there is in these verses (and they
are many), one thing is clear, the writer was not
wholly ignorant of Irish history.
* The story told in Dean Monahan's Essay on Ardagh of a
territorial dispute between Cairbre of Granard and his brother
Conal, gives a colour of truth to this tradition.
I
130
PLACE-NAMES OF THE
It is traditionally told by the oldest men in
the parishes of Ballymachugh, Abbeylara, and
Mullahoran that Granard means "ugly height;"
that the man (probably Cairbre) for whom the
Moat was built, not pleased with it, said : 1f
<xjfo e, i.e., it is an ugly height. O' Dono-
van says that this is the correct interpretation of
Granard. The word Granard, therefore, refers
to the Moat and the high ground beyond it —
-Afro meaning high, and not to the town which,
or at least the greater part of which, is situated
in the townland of Rathcronan. The town of
Granard is, comparatively speaking, in low
ground, whereas Granard, that is its name, means
high ground. Strictly speaking it is incorrect to
call the present town by the name Granard. The
old town of Granard, which stood near Granard-
cille, was the scene of many a bloody conflict.
It was burned by Edward Bruce in 13 15, so that
it never rose to a town of any importance after-
wards. After the battle of Aughrim (C<xc C<\c-
•ojtuim) 12 July, 1691,* the inhabitants having
abandoned it, shifted eastwards and commenced
to build in the hollow, where now stands the
present town. Why the Moat was called ugly
* Before the date of the battle of Aughrim there was but one
small house in the present town of Granard. — Donovan,
COUNTY LONGFORD.
131
we do not know, the high ground beyond it is
by no means ugly; it is in fact, as the Tripartite
Life expresses it, a locus amoenusy a charming
spot, commanding an extensive view of the
greater part of the County Longford. In 178 1,
we are told, there were in Granard several large
meetings of harpers, who competed for prizes
offered by John Dunigan.* These competitions
on each occasion terminated in a ball, to which
in some instances 1,000 guests were invited.
" Lease (under commission 17 January, XXVI.
Elizabeth) to Roger Radford, of the site of the
manor of Granard, in the Annaly, County Long-
ford, with the lands, rents, customs, belonging
to the manor, to hold for 21 years. Rent £36.
Maintaining two English horsemen." — Fiants of
Elizabeth.
" The vicarage of Granard was valued at £14
sterling." f — Carlisle.
Granardkille ; gtlAtiAtit) citte.
If Granard means "ugly height," as the learned
O'Donovan believes it does, then Granardkille
* John Donegan was a wealthy Irish exile.
t It is an error in some who think that the current money in
England is called sterling, from Stirling Castle ; for it had
that name from the Germans, whom the English called Easter-
lings, from their situation eastwards, and whom King John
€rst called over to reduce money to its purity." — Ware's Antiq.
132
PLACE-NAMES OF THE
means ugly height of church, an interpretation by
no means acceptable. This place-name should
be inverted, and the place called Killgranard
(Citt-5ttAtiAifVo), £.e.$ church of the ugly height ;
the word " ugly," referring to the Moat, not to
the high ground around the church. But an old
custom is not easily changed.
Inquisition taken 27th January, XXXVII.
Elizabeth, finds here Hospital, Termon, Irenach,
endowed with two cartrons of land.
Greave ; gniorh, ten acres.
The liquids n and \\ sometimes interchange in
Irish. Gniomk is the twelfth part of a f eif peac
or ploughland, which consists of 120 acres.
This was the amount of land which a single
horse was supposed to turn up in a year, twelve
times 120 acres were equal to one ballybetagh,
and 30 ballybetaghs were equal to one tuath.
The term tuath originally meant a tribe whose
king had 700 fighting men under his command,
then it came to mean the district inhabited by
the tribe, which in size was almost equal to the
modern barony.— Joyce*
GREYTOWN ; t)Alte tl1At)A&
COUNTY LONGFORD.
133
Greenanmeva; 5tl1A11An meAt)t)A, Queen
Meave's palace built on the north-west of Inis
Clothrann, in Lough Ree.
" & 5jiiAHAn, a cloc cuifie,
T>'AfiCAC ocuf "o'dp buit>e,
Utngi *6]itiimnec j;An *oocrriA,
T),eicib "oonriA if "oejig copcrtA."
— From i?0<?£ of Lismore
(" Of its Grianan the corner stones
Are all of silver and yellow gold,
Its thatch in stripes of faultless order,
Of wings of brown and crimson red.")
The Grianan here belonged to Crede, the
daughter of Cairbre, King of Kerry. It was
situated at the foot of a mountain called the
"Paps of Anann," in Kerry. — C? Curry.
Grianan, derived from griany the sun, has
many meanings : {a) a nice sunny place ; (V) a
summer house ; (c) a gallery ; (d) a royal resi-
dence; thus Greenan-Ely, on the shores of
Lough Swilly, where the princes of Ulster lived
for many ages. In the famous palace of Rath-
croghan (Rac CfiuACAn), County Roscommon,
built by Eochy Feylach for his daughter Meave,
the grianan was placed in front of the palace
134
PLACE-NAMES.
over the other apartments. These grianain were
sometimes thatched with birds' feathers ; the
colours so arranged as to exhibit unity in
variety, which, as the philosophers tell us, is the
essence of beauty. Waterford was anciently
called CuAti-riA-5|tiAn, i.e.y the Harbour of the
sun, afterwards it was called 5te<xrm-n<\-ri5teo,6,
or, the Valley of lamentation, because of a battle
fought there in the tenth century. Its present
name is of Danish origin.
GRILLAGH ; JtieAttAC, a bare or moist place.
GULAROE ; 50t)tAC tttlAt), red forks.
This is the name of a place in the townland of
Larkfield, on the shores of Loch Gamhna.
IGGINSTOWN; UOCAtl 114
1TI 6 tt A, causeway of the
bog.
NCHANGIN; 1 tl 1 S Alttgin, or,
locally, 1111S VIA n-eAtl, birds' island.
This place is now known as Hare
Island, owing, it is said, to hares cross-
ing over the ice to it in search of new
pastures.
This island, according to the Inquisitions, con-
tained one cartron of land. St. Ciaran founded
i35
136
PLACE-NAMES OF THE
a monastery on it about 540. Before leaving
for Clonmacnoise he appointed St. Domnan his
successor. In 894 the Bishop of Clonmacnoise,
Cairbre Crom, was holding a Synod on this
island, when some Connaught men attacked and
killed many persons on it As they were return-
ing home they were in turn attacked by the
men of Coosan, near Athlone, and killed. At
the time of the dissolution of the monasteries
the Dillons got possession of the island, since
then it has passed through many hands. Part
of St. Ciaran's old church still remains. The
mason-work, which is of a cyclopean character,
indicates its antiquity.
INCHCLERAUN; 1 H1 S CtOCtlAtltl, Clothra's
Isle.
This island formerly formed part of the king-
dom of Hy-Many. It is now included in the
County Longford. Clothra was the mother of
Lughaidh who was, at a remote period, king of
Ireland. " In the reign of Lughaidh the lakes
Neagh and Ree began to make their appear-
ance." St. Diarmid, patron of Inis Clothrann
was brother of St. Fedliminus, who was Bishop
of Kilmore ; both were descended from Dathy,
the last pagan king of Ireland, who was killed in
From Photo by] [J. T. Hoban.
Church of St. Ciaran, Inisainghin, Loch Ribh (Ree).
COUNTY LONGFORD.
137
427. St. Diarmid was the teacher of St. Ciaran
of Inisangin, afterwards the founder of Clon-
macnoise. Inis Clothrann, as a religious seat, is
probably older than Clonmacnoise. St. Diarmid
wrote a pious work which the learned Colgan
states was in his possession. His festival is
honoured on the 10th of January. St. Diarmid's
church, measuring eight feet by seven, is said to
be the smallest in Ireland. To the north-west
of Grianan Meadhbha, or Queen Meave's palace,
is Temple Clogas, the first church erected by
St. Diarmid on Inis Clothrann. The belfry of
this church was thirty feet high and its bell so
loud-sounding as to be heard a distance of
seven miles. It is one of the few ancient
square belfries now existing in Ireland.
" I shall visit Inis Clothrann,
Which exceeds all the others far in beauty.
It was on this isle of grass and beauty
That Meave of Croghan, Queen of Connaught,
Fell by the son of the King of Uladh.
In time of war and bloody murders,
The Clanna Rory and the sons of Uisneach,
Mighty men of strength and courage,
Rose up to war and emulation,
For one fair damsel, ycleped Deirdre.
133
PLACE-NAMES OF THE
Five hundred years after the Saviour
Had suffered for the sins of mankind,
The holy Diarmid here erected
Seven churches and a steeple ;
He also placed on Inis Clothrann,
That beauteous, fertile, airy, island,
Two convents of which the ruins
Are to be seen still on the island."
—MSS. of Ord. Survey.
This island, sometimes called " Quaker Island,"
also " Island of the Seven Churches," is about
one mile long and one-third of a mile broad.
By reason of its churches it is the most impor-
tant island in Lough Ree. From the middle of
the eighth to the end of the thirteenth century,
bishops, priests, poets, historians, professors,
princes, chiefs, without count, lived, died, and
were buried, on this holy isle.
" Fair City of the Lake, the day is long gone past,
When choral voices lent rich echoes to the blast."
Inchboffin; 1t11S t>0 pintle, island of the
white cow.
Inis Mhic Ualaing was the ancient name of
this island, which contains about twenty-seven
acres. It lies about six miles from Inis Cloth-
ran. The island contains two churches. The
church on the south end of the island shows
From Photo by\ U> T. Hoban.
Church of St. Rioch, Inchboffin.
COUNTY LONGFORD.
139
a window much admired by archaeologists.
St. Rioch was, according to O'Donovan, vene-
rated on this island on 6th February. In the
Calendar of the Irish Saints his feast falls on
1st August. It is said that St. Rioch, who
founded a monastery here about 450, was the
curator or custodian of St. Patrick's books.
This, as well as the other islands in Lough Ree,
suffered very much from the Danes.
" They were fair till the Danish invader
Swept down with his fire and sword,
To loot and to burn was his glory,
And greed was the God he adored."
— Brian na Banban.
INCHDERMOTT.
St. Diarmid blessed all the islands in Lough
Ree except one, which is called 1mf Th&ftttt4i*o
T>e4r\m<voc4 (or, briefly, 1nif *Oi<\|AmAi,o),
Diarmid's forgotten island.
INCHMORE (in LochRibh); 1111S tflOtl, great
island in Lough Ree.
This island contains 104 acres of arable land.
In the fifteenth century an Augustinian monas-
tery was founded here ; it and its possessions
were handed over to Thomas Philips in the reign
of Elizabeth.
140
PLACE-NAMES OF THE
" Lease under commission, 26 September,
IX. of Elizabeth, to Thos. Philips, gent., of the
islands of Inshmore in Loughry, in part of the
flood of the Shynnen, Inshelyggen, Inshclogh-
rene, with four messuages and the stone walls of
a monastery, Calanishe, alias Inshcalla, Inshen-
enagh and Inshekanbegdermuyd, all in Loughry,
with their tithes, to hold for 21 years at a rent
of 25s. 2d. Not to alien without license. Not
to let except to English by both parents, and not
to charge coyn.* Fine, 20s." — Fiants of Elizabeth*
* " Maurice Fitz-Thomas, Earl of Desmond, was the first of
the English who charged the subject with the heavy tax called
Coyn and Livery, namely, money, food and lodging for man
and horse. This he is said to have introduced in the time of
Edward II., King of England, for the maintenance of the
King's army against the Scots in Ireland, who then ravaged
the country under the command of Edward Bruce, who had
declared himself King of Ireland. . . . Coyn is an English
word signifying money, and Livery, in the more moderate
acceptation, signifies necessaries either as a just due or for
honour sake, given to magistrates, strangers, travellers.
" But in Ireland those impositions were exacted with so much
rigour and insolence, and neither limited to certain times or
places, that it caused the depopulation, exile and extirpation
of many of the principal subjects, and many grew idle and lay
still, expecting an end of their miseries and the oppression of
the times. To which miseries we may add (out of the Statute
of the X. of Henry VII.) the murders, rapes, and thefts com-
mitted by those very soldiers who were maintained by these
exactions. At last the same Irish exactions prevailed among
some English of eminent place, as particularly the Earls of
Desmond. But in the reign of King James the laws of the
land were universally received, and these taxes and oppres-
sions were wholly laid aside." — Ware's Antiq,
From Photo by] [Rev. J. MacGivney.
St. Columcille's Monastery, Inchmore, Lough Gowna.
COUNTY LONGFORD.
141
INCHMORE (in Loch Gamhna); 1I11S til Oil tOCA
JAThtlA, great island of Lough Gowna.
Inis derived from znse, difficult of access, is
not as much used in the spoken language as
oilean. — 0' Donovan.
" The local tradition is that the ruined church
which still remains on it (Saints' Island, in Loch
Ce), was founded by St. Columcille about the
same time as he founded the church on Oilean
na Naemh, or Saints' Island, in Loch Gamhna
(Gowna) in County Longford. St. Columcille
founded a church on some island in Loch Ce
about year 550." — 0' Curry.
" After this the blessed man journeying into
Breffney, blessed an island situate on the lake
there called Loch Gamhna."
The blessed island contains about twenty-five
acres of good land. There are on it the remains
of two churches, St. Columcille's, to the south, the
portrait of which is herewith given, St. Ciaran's
to the north of the island. A remnant of a wall
partly covered with ivy is all that now remains
of St. Ciaran's ancient home. According to
O'Donovan St. Ciaran, who owned the eastern
half of the island, was the patron saint of Abbey-
tera. This parish is now under the tutelage of
St. Bernard.
142
PLACE-NAMES OF THE
Biodan Mor, son of Lughach, was Bishop of
Inis Mor; his feast falls on 14th January. If
this Saint died 496, as some say he did, then he
must have been Bishop of St. Ciaran's Church,
which looks more ancient than St. Columcille's.
St. Columcille was born 521, and, therefore,
churches founded by him, or dedicated to him,
cannot date further back than about the middle
of the sixth century. In 804 this island and its
churches suffered from the Danes, who sailed up
the Erne. St. Columcille's monastery became a
very rich institution, for it is stated in the
Inquisitions that it possessed land to the amount
of fifteen cartrons. In 141 5 Cam on n tTlAcpionti-
t>Afip (Anglice Gay nor), abbot of this monastery,
died. Fionnbharr means fair countenance, "et
ob insignem oris candorem Finbarrus est ap-
pellatus." — II. Noct. Offici. Div. 5/. Finbarr.
" Gone is Bangor and its glory and the halls of high
Clonard !
Inismh6r hears Gowna's murmur, not the chant
of cowled Fionnbarr."
— Anonymous.
A numerous people named Fionnbarr formerly
inhabited the country west of Loch Gamhna.
In the thirteenth or fourteenth century this
monastery became a branch house of the great
monastery of Abbeylara, to which parish half
COUNTY LONGFORD.
143
of the island of Inismhor belonged. Richard
OTarrell was the last abbot of Abbeylara. In
1 54 1 he had to surrender his own monastery,
also the monastery in Loch Gamhna. By Act
of Parliament under St. Leger * Henry was
granted possession of the monasteries ; then the
work of spoliation commenced, and was con-
tinued with greater rapacity under Elizabeth,
who handed over the possessions of this monas-
tery to Christopher Nugent, as the following
extract shows : —
" Lease under letters, 10th May, IX. of Eliza-
beth, to Christopher Nugent, Lord of Delvin,
the site of the monastery of Inchmore in Lough
gawne, and the land of the same island and
Inchmore for 21 years from 1581 ; rent £6 14s. 8d.
Not to alien without license under the great
seal, and not to levy coyn. 30th June, IX. Eliza-
beth."— Fiants of Elizabeth.
Inny River ; At)Ainn riA H-eitne.
This river, it is said, was called after the wife
of Conchobar MacNessa, King of Ulster, whose
* In this Parliament, which was begun at Dublin under Sent-
leger, on the 13th June, 1541, the full and free disposal of all the
Abbeys of Ireland in the Statute expressed, was confirmed to
the King, who soon after disposed of their lands and posses-
sions to his Nobles, Courtiers and others, reserving to himself
certain annual rents." — Wares Antiq.
144
PLACE-NAMES
birth and death happened on the same hours as
the birth and death of Christ. Eithne is the
Irish for Annie and signifies knowledge. For a
fuller explanation see Addendum at end of
book.
Inny Glen; gteAntl HA H-ei trie, glen of the
Inny.
Cumar is another term for a glen or valley,
and from it is derived " Kimri," which was the
ancient name of the people of Wales, a country
marked with many hills and valleys.
UN AD MARBA MEVA; 10ttAT>
tt1ATtl)tA ttiexVOtte, place where
Queen Meave was killed.
After the death of her husband,
OHoll (who was killed by Conall Cear-
nach, or Conall the Victorious), and
her paramour, Fergus, the dethroned
King of Ulster, Queen Meadhbh retired
to Inis Clothrann, in Loch Ribh (Ree). While
here it was usual with her to bathe every morn-
ing in the lake. To avenge the assistance which
she gave Fergus in making war on Ulster, For-
bhuidhe, the son of Conchobar MacNessa, de-
termined to " cut her off." With this indention
he had the distance from Elfeet Bay to her
bathing-place measured. He took the measure
with him to Emania, his residence ; here he
fixed two stakes in the ground, their distance
145 K
146
PLACE-NAMES OF THE
apart being equal to the distance measured from
Elfeet to the Queen's bathing-place. On one
of these stakes he fixed an apple, and standing
at the other, he kept firing at the apple with his
cp<\rm unbuilt, or sling, till he became a perfect
shot Now it happened that there was a meeting
of the men of Ulster and Connaught on the east
side of the Shannon, opposite Inis Clothrann.
Forbhuidhe attended this meeting, which af-
forded him an opportunity of executing his
wicked intention. Rising early one morning he
armed himself with his crann tabhuill> or firing
machine, and when Meave came, as usual, to
bathe, he aimed a stone at her head, which
killed her instantly. The place where she fell
has been known by the above name to this
day. This happened about 70 a.d. According
to Pliny the Phoenicians were the first people to
use the sling. In the wars of Israel there were
stone-slingers. David killed Goliath in this way;
and the Romans employed the Balearians as
stone-throwers.
11 Next let me visit that fair lovely isle,
Which lies in bright Loughree, about a mile
From Analy's shore — an isle on which St. Darby
Erected seven churches and a steeple,
In which he placed a bell to call the people.
COUNTY LONGFORD.
14;
An isle on which the brave, fierce champion,
Forby,
Despatched old Meava, that warlike Connacht
Queen,
Who proved herself to be as great a queen
As e'er the isle of Druids and Saints produced,
Who was, 'tis said, by Fergus Roy seduced,
Or vice versa. Forby with a sling,
Did cast a stone, it was a mighty fling
From Analy's shore to Clothra's fertile isle,
By which he smote, let modern sceptics smile,
This warlike woman — noble Quean and Queen,
And ended thus that furious war between
The thrones of Cruachan and Emania. So
The bards have sung and ancient records show.''
—Journal Roy. Soc. of Antiq*
Johnston's Bridge; cnoc Atl T)ttOl5neAitt,
hill of the blackthorn.
Droighne&in is found in surnames ; in the west
of Ireland it is Anglicised Thornton.
148
PLACE-NAMES.
There is on Inismhor, Loch Gamhna, a large
stone (the long narrow stone in the accompanying
illustration is the one I allude to) much worn, on
which St. Columcille, according to tradition, left
the impression of his two holy knees, hard as
those of St. James, from constant praying, and
of his four fingers and one thumb. On looking
closely at this stone these impressions will be
seen.
We are told that the two Emers, sisters of
St. Guasacht, Bishop of Granard, left the im-
pression of their feet in a stone on which they
stood, when they received the blessed veil from
St. Patrick at Clonbroney, County Longford.
" Who (Emers) after they had been consecrated
with the sacred veil, left the tracts of their feet
impressed in the stone on which they stood,
which tracts are to be seen to this day" (1837).
— O Donovan. And Dr. Healy, in his Life of
St. Patrick^ gives a quotation which tells us the
same. Are we to believe, as some writers would
have us to believe, that such marks were in every
instance cut by the chisel of the stone-cutter?
The Saint s holy well, stopped by the hand of
cultivation, cannot now be identified.
From Photo by] [Rev. J. MacGtvney.
St. Columcille's Stone, Inchmore, Lough Gowna.
(The Flat Stone at left side.)
EEL; CAOt, narrow ridge, a marsh.
This is a large townland con-
taining four cartrons.
Keelbawn ; CAOt t>£«,
narrow white ridge.
Keeldordan; C01tt T>AtVOA1t1, Dardan's
wood. — 0* Donovan.
Keeldra ; C6AtT)tlAC, an unconsecrated burial
ground.
This word is also spelled ceAUxjiac.
Keeldramore; ceAVOft&C tnOtl, great burial-
ground.
In Cavan these places are called caldragh. In
County Galway they are written with a /, for
instance, Caltra in thb tTUine. — J1, Concannon.
KEELOG ; CAOtOg, narrow ridge.
149
PLACE-NAMES OF THE
KEELOGALABAWN ; CAOtOg A tAbAin,
labourer's narrow ridge.
Keelognasause ; CAOtOg tIA SAS, narrow
ridge of the nets or engines.
KENAGH; CAOttAC, moss.
This is a small townland of one cartron. In
1837 the village contained eighty-one human
habitations and 396 souls. 50 t>eirhiti, feo aic
Atuwn te f uitie ffof <xp f e<vo cAtnaitt te fcfC vo
Keshnahowna ; ceiS HA t1-At)A1t1tie, cause-
way of the river.
KILASHEE ; C1tt A' SVt>e, church of the hill.
S'ro originally meant a fairy, but as it was
the belief that fairies dwelt in the interior of
nice hills, it came to signify a hill. The ancient
name of Kilashee was Achadhcaorthain, the
field of the rowan tree. Kilashee was situated in
the ancient territory of Maghtraigha. The feast
of the holy virgin, Brinsioc of Moy tra, Longford,
is honoured on 29th May.
Maghtraigha (TH45 qiAjja), means plain of
the strand or shore, in reference to the River
Shannon.
COUNTY LONGFORD.
Kilasonna; C1tt A' SOtlAlt), church of the
mound, rampart, or palisade.
Kilcomock ; C1tV6A-CAm05, St. Dd Camog's
Church.
According to O'Donovan the patron saint of
this parish should be St. Dd Cam6g, and not
St. Domnick. One cartron of land, free of rent
and taxes, was attached to Kill-dd-Camog. The
Saint's holy well was called Cloghree (Ctoc pig),
or " stone of the king." It was probably near
the Saint's church, in the townland of Kil-
comock.
Kilcurry; roitt A9 CtmtlA1$, wood of the
moor.
KlLDEREEN ; C01tt *001tl1t1, wood of little derry.
KlLEEN ; COtttftl, little wood.
Kilfintan; C1tt FlOtltAin, St. Fintan's
Church.
"The parish of Street," says O'Donovan,
" should be called Kilfintan, after St. Fintain,
who was the original founder of it, and not from
a country street town (baite rp4it>e), which is
not remarkable for its history or antiquity." It
is traditionally told that St. Fintain is interred
152
PLACE-NAMES OF THE
in a mound (ce<xrm ajvo)* which is situate on the
left-hand side of the road leading from Granard
to Lismacaffrey, on the bank of a small river,
near the latter place. St. Fintain' s feast-day
falls on ioth October. Stations are performed
at his holy well on the first Sunday in August.
There were many saints of this name, notably
St. Fintain of Cluain eidhneach, or the ivy lawn,
whose feast is honoured on 17th February, and
St. Fintain Munna of Tagmon (Ueac ttlurma,
Munna's Church or Cell, County Wexford),
whose feast falls on 21st October.
KlLGLASS ; C1tt gtAS, grey church.
KlLINA ; C01U, AH £eAt)A, wood of the rushes.
KILLINBORE; COlttfn bO 'OAR, dull little
wood.
Killeeny; Clttini'Oe, little churches.
KiLLENURE; COltUtl 4tt 1 lib <\m, little wood
of the yew tree.
Killeendowa j COltUn tlf *6tltyOA, O'Dowd's
little wood.
tH is the genitive of 6 which formerly meant
grandson, but now means any male descendant.
* 1f e ah r-Atntn aca aiji— " Kenard," recti% ce-ann Ajro, high
head.
COUNTY LONGFORD.
O-surnames are older and more numerous than
Mac-surnames except in the north of Ireland,
In the penal days when everything Irish was
held in odium, many people dropped the 6 and
the Mac prefixes to their names. To escape
detection some translated the Mac and added
it on to the end of their surnames, thus,
MacStephen became Stephenson; MacNeill be-
came Nelson ; MacEdmond became Edmond-
son. Another way of concealing the Mac was to
change its c to g, thus Mag, which became united or
incorporated with the ancestral name. MacCann
then became Magann; MacRannel was written
Magrannell; Mac Auley became Magauley. This
change could easily be made where the ancestral
name began with a vowel or /"aspirated, /, n> r,
s and d.
If the surname in its Anglicised form begins
with h, then the Irish form of the name will,
in most instances, take 6. Thus Heslin in its
Irish form is 6 h-6iptin ; Hart becomes 6 h-Aipc;
Harten, 6 h-AficAiri. The k is not part of the
ancestral name but a euphonic letter put in
between the two vowels.
Most surnames which begin with Mai, Mul,
etc., take 6 as a prefix in their Irish forms,
thus : Mallon in Irish is 6 tHe^tUm ; Muldoon
154
PLACE-NAMES OF THE
becomes 6 Tn4ott>i3in ; Malcolm, 6 tH<\ot CoUn,
one devoted to St. Columcille.
KiLLETRE; COltX eAUAR, central wood.
Aughavaens (Ac<v6 ttieA*6<Mn), central field,
situated in parish of Scrabby, County Cavan.
KlLLENAWAS ; COltt Atl AttlAIS, soldiers' wood.
Situated near Clonbroney.
O'Donovan found some difficulty in explain-
ing this place-name. He gathered from the
tradition of the people that formerly there was
a quarrel between the O'Farrells and the Sheri-
dans ; that a section of O'Farrell's followers
concealed themselves in a wood at this place,
and hence the name. Amhas is derived from
am, not, and fos, rest, one who has no rest,
then it came to mean a hireling soldier. In
Munster it signifies a hound, a beagle.
Ossory (Amhas-rigk) got its name from King
Aengus Amhas-righ, or Aengus of the king's
body-guard, because by King Aengus Ossory
was exempted from taxes, but the men from it
should compose the king's body-guard, and
hence its name. — O'Halloran,
KlLLOE ; Cltt eO, church of yew tree.
"tt. pAilbe 6 Cltt eo a jjconcae an Longpojic
ve Ct<\na tlui5|Ae, — June 30," St. Failbhe
COUNTY LONGFORD.
155
(pronounced Falvy) from Killoe, in the County
Longford, of Clan Rory. Feast-day, June 30th,
Ruigridhe (Rory) was the grandfather of
Fergus MacRoy, whose son Conmaic, by the
famous Queen Meadhbh (pronounced Meve), was
progenitor of the MacRannells and O'Farrells.
Kilmacannon; coitt tine CAtiAinn,
MacCannon's wood.
Kilmahon; C1tt mAt$ATilt1A MacMahon's
church.
Situated in parish of Drumlish ; there is an
old grave-yard at this place. The surname
Mahon is said to be derived from ffiAcgAmain, a
bear.
kilmakinlan ; coitt true coimxetMtn,
MacKinlan's wood.
KlLMOYLE ; Cltt 1TI AOt, bald church, *>., church
without a cross.
This place is now Anglicised Newtownbond.
The word Newtown enters much into Anglicised
names, the name of the gait or foreigner who
took possession of the place being affixed, thus,
Newtownforbes, Newtowngore, Newtownhamil-
ton, Newtownstewart, etc.
KlLNACARROW; C01tt X\& COfUVO, wood of
the weir.
1 56
PLACE-NAMES OF THE
Kilnatruan; coiLUn a u-srtou^in, little
wood of the streamlet.
KlLNASHEE ; C01tt H>A Sit), wood of the
fairies.
KlLNASHAMOGE ; COlUl V\& SATTIOJ, wood of
the sorrel.
Kilshrewly; COlVt Sntlttl'Oe, wood by the
stream.
" People of the east and south-east of Ireland
have a tendency to modify topographical names
ending in ar, air, inn, to ail, ill; thus Loch
Aininn, in Westmeath, is called Loch Ennill;
Loch Uair is called Loch Uail or Owel. So
sruthair (a stream) is pronounced in the south
as well as in the east shrule, shrewil, or
shrowle? — 0* Curry.
Kilsallagh; COlUl S^VUXC, dirty wood; or
Coitt Saiteac, wood of willow-trees.
KlLTYBEGS; COlttue beAJA, little
woods.
Kiltyceary; COlttce tri CMRtlA, O'Carey's
woods.
KlLTYCLOUCH; COlttue CtCKMCd, stony
woods.
COUNTY LONGFORD.
157
KlLTYCON; COlUtce COn * dogs' woods.
Kiltycreevagh; COlLtue CIlAOtMCA,
branchy woods.
Kiltyreeher; COlttue niOC^tl, woods of
royal men. — O'Donovan.
KlNARD; C10Hn high head.
KlNKILLEW ; Ce^nn COlLLe^VO, head of wood-
Coitl,f genitive coitle and coit,te<v6 ; the
latter is the form used in north of Ireland.
KNAPAGH ; Cn<\p<\C, knolly land.
KNAPOGE ; Ctl Apog, a knoll, a hillock.
Knock; cnoc, a hill.
Pronounced cpoc in Connaught.
KNOCKAGH ; CriOC e^C, hill of horses.
Knockagowna; cnoc 4 gAtrma, hill of the
calf.
* Con, found in surnames, is the genitive of cu, meaning,
figuratively, a hero ; thus Confrey (MacConfraoich), hero of
the heath. Conboy in Irish is 6 Conbuidhe, descendant of the
tawny hero ; i.e., cu under the influence of tYUc and 6 becomes
Con: MacConmara (now MacNamara), descendant of the
sea-hound, £<?., a pirate.
tpio-o, a wood. Fethard (pio-6 Afro), high wood. £io-6 an
&t&, Finea. Wheery (pO'Cfte or pui-ofie), wood, forest ; situated
in King's County. £ioxmAc (now Fenagh, County Leitrim),
woody. Collough (CottteAc), arborous. It formed part of
the Termon of Fenagh*
158
PLACE-NAMES OF THE
KNOCKAHAW; C110C A' CAt A, hill of the battle.
Knockaherke; CtlOC A' C01ttce,hill of the oats.
Knockamoneen ; cnoc A' rh 61 n in, hill of the
little moor, fen, marsh.
KNOCKAN ; CnOCAtl, a hillock.
WeAttqian, a hillock; a place near Cloone,
County Leitrim.
Knockanbawn; CnOCAtl b An, white hill.
This place-name is being Anglicised by the
people of parish of Clonbroney and neighbour-
hood.
KNOCKANBOY; CnOCAn bume, yellow hillock.
Knockanean ; cnoc An em, hill of the bird
KNOCKANURE; Cnoc An 1tlbA1tl, hill of the
yew tree.
Knockaskea; cnoc nA sceice, hill of the
lone bush.
Knockavogue; cnoc A' beAgAin, hill of the
trifle,
Knockawalkey ; cnoc A' bAtCOlj, hill of
the driving. — 0' Donovan.
KNOCKBRACK; Cnoc btieAC, speckled hill.
KNOCKLAGHAN ; Cnoc teAUAn, broad hill.
COUNTY LONGFORD.
159
Knockloughlin; cnoc tOCt^in^Loughlin's
hill.
KNOCKMARTIN; CHOC 1tt^tlUA1H, Martin's hill.
KNOCKMODDY ; CHOC m&O&X), dogs' hill.
KNOCKMORE; CHOC motl, large hill.
KNOCKMOY ; CHOC Hl^ge, hill of the plain.
KNOCKRAPPERY ; CHOC tlOp^Mtie, robbers' hill
or noisy hill.
KNOCKROE; CHOC tll3 <VO, red hill.
ACKAN; teACAItt, shelving
side of hill.
Laghloony; LeAU ctu-
ttA1T>e, half lawns.
Lakefield; 511 mufti nu^X),
red little field.
Lakefield is the fashionable name. — 0* Donovan.
Lamagh ; le^m AC, abounding in elm.
Lanaskea ; t6At1A HA SCOAC, meadow of the
white-thorns.
LANESBORO' ; t>eAt AUA tlAg, mouth of ford
of flag, cr At pinn, ue.t ford of the stony
place of Finn MacCumhail, i.e.} Finn, the son of
Cumhail.
160
PLACE-NAMES.
161
This Finn who was a warrior, a hunter, and
a poet, has left his name on many places in
Ireland ; he was not a mythical being, as many
think, but in the opinions of the learned O'Curry
and O'Donovan, a real personage, who lived in
the third century of the Christian era, and was
slain, according to the Annals, A.D. 284. This
was one of the three famous fords of the ancient
kingdom of Hy-Many(11t Ulaine), which stretched
from the Shannon to Athenry, County Galway.
Laragh ; tAIUTtCAC, where a battle was fought;
the site of anything.
Larkfield; cUiaw ^tnseCige.
This place-name is completely Anglicised and
all knowledge of the former name forgotten. It
is in the parish of Scrabby.
LEAB ; teAt)t), a stripe of land.
LECURRAGH ; teAU CtmtlAC, half-curragh.
Ledwithstown ; t>Aite Ati teAT)i3sAi5.
LEGAN ; tlAgAHI, a standing stone, a pillar-
stone.
The parish of Legan is better known by this
name than by Killglass (Citt gt^f),* which was
*" The vicarage of Aharagh, value £it was united to Kil-
glass."— -Carlisle.
L
PLACE-NAMES OF THE
the name of St. Eiche's Church, which was the
original Christian church of the parish. St.
Eiche's feast falls on 5th August.
LEGGAGH ; full of holes.
Lehery ; teAt A* tllg, king's half:
11 The word Righ in many ancient tracts is
often applied to a petty chief of one barony."
— Tribes and Customs of Hy- Many.
LEITRIM ; t1At-T)tltl1tn, grey ridge.
This was the most ancient name of Tara hill.
Lenaboy; t&AttA t)Vnt)e, yellow holm or wet
meadow.
Lenamore; teAtlA mOtl, large swampy
land.
Lenaiiaun ; teAHACA1tt, a holm.
Leanahauns ; t,&AnA1>oe, wet meadows.
LENASKEA ; t&AttA YiA SCeAC, meadow of the
whitethorns.
LETTERGEERAGH ; teiU1tl SCAOtlAC, hillside of
the sheep.
Leitiry derived from leatk, half, and tirim, dry,
a hill-slope half dry. In Connaught it de-
notes a spewy hill down the side of which water
trickles. — 0 'Donovan.
COUNTY LONGFORD.
163
11 61 was an ancient Irish word for sheep, and
6imelc (z.e.y 6i-nielg, or ewe-milk,) was the name
ol the beginning of Spring, because that is the
time the sheep's milk comes." In Christian
times the beginning of Spring or February was
called tllf na feite bjiip'oe, or the month of
Brigid's feast. "Februarius mensis, the month
of expiation (because on the 15 th of this month
the great feast of expiation and purification,
Februa, was held), February ; until the time of
the decemvirs the last month of the Roman
year, afterwards the second." — SmitJis Dict\
LETTERGULLION ; teicm CtnteAtW, hill-side
of the holly tree.
The holly was regarded as the first of trees,
because it was used in making feirse, or axle-
trees for chariots. 11 The close-grained holly,
the choice of the wood," this was the answer
Gobban Saer made when asked to name the
best wood in the forest.
Lettergonnell; teium CO«A1t ,* Conail's hill-
side.
* Letterfyne (Leicifi £iA*a<Mn), situated in parish of Kil-
tubride, County Leitrim, means wild hill-side. — O Donovan.
Gortletteragh (gofu: teictte-Ac), field of the spewy hill-
side.— ODonovan.
164
PLACE-NAMES OF THE
LlONMORE ; t<\15in m OR, great spear.
Leinster got the name t<Mgin from the intro-
duction of the broad-headed lance by Labhra
Loingsech, one of its kings from Gaul. The
termination ster is Danish. — Bardic Hist. Ir.
LlSAGERNAL; VlOS *V jetUirm, Gerlin's fort.
LlSAHERTY; UOS A1 tt<\t)4tlU415, Rafferty's
fort.
LlSAKEARY; tlOS A1 CeAX\tA\%, Keary's fort
In some of the old MSS. Cairbre's descen-
dants are called Kearys, spelled in Irish OCiajtoa.
LISAKIT ; VlOS A' CA1U, fort of the wild cat.
The lios was common in the west, and the rath
in the east, of Ireland. Another kind of fort was
the dun, which, like the others, was circular in
shape and built of large undressed blocks of stone,
without cement. It had two walls, the space be-
tween them sometimes filled with water. Under
the dun was often a beehive-shaped lumber-
room, which served as a protection against the
enemy. One of the greatest of these stone forts
is Dunangus, in the Aran Isles, built by Aengus,
son of Umoir, a Firbolg chief, at the beginning
of the Christian era. Dunseverick, in Antrim,
built by the Milesians, is another.
COUNTY LONGFORD.
According to Ven. Bede dun means a height,
and the Gauls called an elevated place a dun ;
hence dunum marks the termination of the
names of many of the towns of ancient Gaul,
thus Lugdunum, now Lyons ; Ceasarodunum,
Tours; Novidunum, Noyan ; Vindunum, Mans;
Augustidunum, Autun; all built on elevated
ground.
Lisameen ; LeASA mine, smooth forts.
LlSANANE; VlOS WA n-e^XII, birds' fort
LfSAWN ; tlOS^n, little fort.
LiSANEDAN; VlOS AX\ e<V04iri, fort of the
brow of hill.
Lisaniske; tlOS AW 111 SCe, fort of the water.
Many place-names, into which esky isk, usk,
etc., enter, are derived from uif ce, water. River
Thames (Uaiti uif 5), slow water. — Bourke.
LlSANORE; 11 OS AT) 01 tl, fort of the gold.
Tighernmas, who reigned 939 B.C., was the
first king to smelt gold. In his reign gold mines
were discovered on the banks of the Liffy.
Uachadan was his artist, "who fabricated cups
and goblets of massy gold." Aldergoid, another
of these early kings, directed that ollamhs and
doctors should wear a gold ring. "When
166
PLACE-NAMES OF THE
Charlemagne founded the universities of Paris
and Pavia in the eighth century, John Scott
and Claude Clement, both Irishmen, introduced
the biretrum, or doctor's cap, for the first time
on the continent, and the gold ring as insignia
of doctors." — (JHalloran.
All the gold ornaments preserved in the Royal
Irish Academy prove that Ireland was formerly
rich in gold.
11 An island rich, exhaustless is her store
Of veiny silver and of golden ore."
LlSANURE; t10S AW 1tlt)A1tl, fort of the yew tree.
The yew ranked among the chief trees. The
Druids regarded it as sacred, and used it in
their ceremonies. Of its timber, which was
very plentiful, vessels were made ; it was also
much used in the manufacture of furniture. Red
yew looked well in carving and ornamental
work. " Upon the arches of the white-walled
church are clusters of rosy grapes carved from
ancient yew." The church mentioned here was
the Cathedral of Armagh, in the thirteenth cen-
tury.— Joyce.
LlSANURLAND ; t10S Atl tmLdltltie, fort of the
spear.
This was a spear with a curved blade, used by
the Firbolgs, Laighin (which gave Leinster its
COUNTY LONGFORD,
name) is a flat, sharp-pointed spear; laigkinisthe
diminutive of /cfo^,another form of which is Ididhe
(pronounced loy\ used in cultivating the soil.
Lisaquill; t10S A CU11X, fort of the hazel.
The Brehon Laws in classifying trees places
the hazel after the oak, which was regarded as
the first of trees. The Irish Druids made use
of the hazel in their ceremonies. Of the wood
much use was made in building wicker-houses,
while its fruit was used as an article of food.
A dish of hazel-nuts was highly esteemed. St.
Patrick was once given a present of "yellow-
headed nuts and golden-yellow apples." One of
the blessings which fell on the country during
the reign of a good king was a plentiful harvest
of hazel nuts, and that blessing fell on Erinn
during the reign of Cormac Mac Airt*
"tie brm CoprriAic ttlic Ai|\c
t)i An fAegAt 50 h-Aebinn aic;
t)i riAOi 5-cno 5 ac crtAebin
Aguf nAOi b-pucit> c^Aebin Aip jac ftAic"
(" During the reign of Corbmac Mac Art
The world was delightful and happy 3
Nine nuts grew on each twig,
And nine score twigs on each rod.")
* Cormac, or, more correctly, Corbmac, was the grandson
of Conn of the Hundred Fights, and lived about the third cen-
tury of the Christian era.
i68
PLACE NAMES OF THE
M The ancient Irish poets believed that there
were fountains at the head of the chief rivers in
Ireland, over each of which grew nine hazels,
that those hazels produced at certain times
beautiful red nuts which fell on the surface of
the water, and that the salmon of the rivers
came up and eat them, and the eating of them
was the cause of the red spots on the salmon's
belly ; that whoever could catch and eat one
of these salmon would be endued with the
sublimest poetic intellect. Hence we often meet
such phrases as these in ancient poems : i Had
I the nut of science'; ' Had I eaten of the salmon
of knowledge.'" — Cor. Gloss.
LlSARD ; tlOS AtVO, high fort.
LlSARDOWLlNG ; tlOS AtVO At)tA, fort of the
height of the orchard. — Four Masters.
"In 1377 John O'Farrell, Lord of Anghaile,
erected the castle of Lisardowling.
"In 1383 John O'Farrell died at Lisardowling
and was interred in Abbeylara." — Four Masters.
LISATINNE; tlOS A' UOntlAlj, fort of the
mound.
LISAWARRIFF; L10S A' tT1ATLt)tA, fort of the
murder.
LlSAWLEY; tlOS AttltAOIt), Awley's fort.
COUNTY LONGFORD. 1 69
Lisbeg ; t10S t)&&5, small fort.
LlSBRACK; VlOS tDtieAC, speckled fort.
This was the former name of Newtownforbes.
LlSCAHlLL; t10S CAtAlt, Cahill's fort.
LlSCORMACK; t10S CORt>rnA1C, Cormac's fort.
LlSDUFF ; t10S T)tlt), black fort.
LlSFERRIDYBAWN ; tlOS peARDAlg t)At1,
white Ferdy's fort. — (J Donovan.
LlSGLASSlCK ; t10S gtASOg, fort of the water-
wagtails.
LlSLEA; tlOS tl AIT, grey fort.
LlSLUM ; VlOS tOtn, bare fort.
LlSMAGAWLEY; Vl O S ttl 1 C 4171 &\,% <\T) A,
MacCawley's fort.
LlSMAGOONEEN ; L10S 114 5-COinitt, fort of
the rabbits.
6 Coinin is a common surname; in places it is
Anglicised.
LlSMICMANUS; tlOS rh 1 c niApuis,
MacManus' fort.
LlSMICMURROUGH ; tlOS ttl 1 C HI 11 tlC A*dA,
MacMurrough's fort, or Murphy's fort,
LlSMORE ; VlOS mOR, large fort.
170
PLACE-NAMES OF THE
LlSNABO; tlOS VIA b6, fort of the cow.
LlSNACREEVY; VlOS tl A CTtAObe, branchy fort.
LlSNACUSH; t10S tt<X C01S, fort of the trunk of
tree.
LlSNAGREE; I10S VIA S-CtttUt), fort of the cattle.
"Tli fioibe t>o c\\ox) <\cc Aen bo," i.e., "he
had no cattle but one cow." " The word cjwo,
here used signifying cattle, is the origin of the
word Cro> Croo or Croy% in our old laws denoting
fine, mulct or satisfaction for murder or other
crimes, such fines having anciently been paid in
cattle."— Dr. Todd.
LlSNAGRlSH; t10S WA JUIS, fort of the embers.
LlSNAHANATHEN ; tlOSAC ATI etTOAItt, fort of
the brow of hill. — O1 Donovan.
Lisnahelta; t10S WA tl-ei tee, fort of the doe.
w Ocuf \yo m^\(b<^6 ye p\\ *oej; *o'ib tl^igittig Ann
beof. Cau rhoige Stecc Afi byiu At a "Oeipg, 45
A\Xz n<\ h-6ltci, 6f bheotAc n<\ beiage, Ainm
m caua pn." — Annals of Loch Ce. "And there
were sixteen men of the O'Reilly family killed
there also. This was the Battle of Magh Slecht,
on the brink of Ath Dearg (the Red Ford), at
Alt-na-h-Eillti (the Hill of the Doe), over Bealach
na Beithige (the road of the birch)."— 0' Curry.
COUNTY LONGFORD.
171
LlSNALAPPA; t10S H4 teAt)tA, fort of the
bed (grave).
This fort is in the townland of Mullanroe,
parish of Scrabby. In ancient times some old
warrior was buried here, and hence the name. In
these days people were sometimes buried stand-
ing. When Cuchullain was mortally wounded
at the battle of Muirtheimnhe, he ordered his
charioteer to place his body standing against a
neighbouring corraig^ or rock, his sword in his
hand, his shield raised up, and his two spears by
his left side. The hero, Eoghan, killed at the
battle of Lena, was buried erect, his lance by
his shoulder, his helmet on his head, his coat of
mail on his body, and his sword in his hand.
Circular cairns of earth and stone were raised
over these graves. " Locus lapidibus obruendus
ubi fanguis humanus sparsus est.''
LlSNAMUCK; t10S t14 mUC, fort of the pigs.
LlSNANAGH ; t10S tlA 11-eAC, fort of the troops,
cavalry ; or it might mean fort of the appari-
tion.— T. Concannon.
Lisnanane; tios wa n-e^n, fort of the
birds.
LlSNAVADDY; L10S ViA ttld'OA'O, fort of the
dogs.
172
PLACE-NAMES OF THE
LlSRATlGAN ; VlOS tteACU4C-A1tl, Ratigan's fort.
This place is being Anglicised " Tinker Hill."
LlSRYAN ; tlOS ft1Ain, Ryan's fort.
LlSROE; tlOS nil AX), red fort.
LlSTACUM; tlOS XlACOVftA, St. Dachoma's fort.
Listobet; t/IOS U10b6lT), Theobald's fort.
LlSTRAHEE; UOS ZK&t 40XM, Hugh's fort
LlSTRlENAGH ; t1 OS T)nA15tt e&C, blackthorn fort.
T)e<\l5 is another word for thorn and is found
in the place-name Dalkey, which is an Irish-
Danish word made up of the Irish tDe^tg, and
the Danish "ey." T)eAt5irmif, i.e., thorn island,
is the Irish name of the place.
LlVERAUN ; tlOeAtlAll, a leveret.
The ordinary Irish word for a hare is geirr-
fhiadh, which literally means a short deer. Pata
is another term for a hare, and is derived from
poi> the foot, and t6, silently, because silently
does the hare tread the ground. — Cor. Gloss.
LONGFIELD; 50UC pxVOA.
Longford; totlgpORU tn £eAtl$A1t, the
camp or fortress of O'Farrell
The military barracks covers the site of this
fortress.
COUNTY LONGFORD.
173
Longford formerly formed part of the royal
province of Meath, which was formed by Tuathal
Teachtmar about the year 85 of our era, and
called peAjiAnn bui^t) R15 eijiearm, or mensal
land of the King of Erinn.
Archdall derives this name from At pvoA,
the long ford, in reference to the River
Camline, but Archdall quotes no authority, and
was, according to O'Donovan, a bad authority
himself. If Longford got its name from the
ford in the Camline, then its present Anglicised
name is correct. " In 1430 Eoghan O'Neill, ac-
companied by the chiefs of his province, marched
with a great army into Anghaile. He went first
to Sean-Longphort and from that to Coillsallach
where he resided for some time." — Four Masters.
This quotation, taken from the Masters \ shows
its correct spelling and meaning.
Longford, as a townland, contained three car-
trons of land south of the River Camline. From
this it is seen that the part of the town north
of the Camline Bridge cannot correctly be called
Longford.
Longford Bridge ; T)tloiCeA>o tongptntiu.*
Drogheda got its name from the bridge over
the Boyne — *OpoiceA-o-^dcA.
* ton$po|ic, an inferior kind of fortress or castle. - J our no*
of Royal Society of Antiquaries.
174
PLACE-NAMES OF THE
Loughan ; tOCdtl, a pond.
But tocAn chaff : Cloonloghan (CUiaw-locAiri),
field of chaff.
Loughahurry; toC A CUftttAlj, lake of the
curragh.
LOUGHANCRAG; tOCAtl CRA1£;e,pond of the crag.
LOUGH ANEUGE; tOCAtt eige, pond of death.
LOUGHANAPEAST ; tOCAtt tIA t>peiSU, pond of
the worms.
Loughanapeiste (tocan n<x peifce), or Lake of
the serpent, was the ancient name of Fenagh
Loch, County Leitrim. Fenagh itself was called
Cnoc-n<vpiog, or Hill of the kings.
LOUGHBANNOW; toC t)A11t),lake of the sucking
pigs.
LOUGHDURCAN; toC T)tlAttCA1t1, Durkan's lake.
LOUGH GOWNA ; toC SAttiriA, lake of calf.
This lake got its name from a well in the
townland of Rathbracken called Uobaji gariina,
which is one of the sources from which the lake
gets its supply of water. Tradition gives the
lake and the well a name the origin of which I
consider too absurd to be inserted here. It is
said that Loch Gamhna covers an area of about
1,200 acres.
tOC nit), (Lough Ree).
COUNTY LONGFORD.
175
LOUGHILL ; teAth COltt, elm wood.
LOUGHMURLE; toC tritntttlje, lake of the
marsh.
LOUGHNAGOWER ; tOC HA tt-5At)A1l, lake of
the goats.
LOUGHREE; tOC Hit), Ribh's Lough.— 0' Donovan.
In the reign of Lughaidh, who was the son of
Clothra, who lived about the first century of the
Christian era, the lakes Neagh and Ree began
to make their appearance, the one emptied itself
into the Bann, the other into the Shannon.
Ribh is probably derived from Rheba, the name
of a place (mentioned on Ptolmy's Map) near
Loughree.— Jour, of Royal Soc. of Antiqr.
LOUGHSEEDAN ; tOC SeiT)eAir), squally lough.
LOUGHSLANE ; tOC StAltie, Slants lough.
LURGAN ; tUR^AN, leg-shaped.
This place is now Anglicised Spring-pork.
LUROCKSFIELD ; ACAt) UltlAlg.
Lyneen ; tAlgnin, little Leinster.
A fancy name. — 0' Donovan.
Leinster was anciently called Cuige Laighean,
or the Province of Spears.
John O'Donovan in 1837,
Father Farrelly, then Parish Priest of Ard-
agh, stated that Killenlastragh was the place
where, according to tradition, St. Lupait threw
the gleaming embers from her bosom. Some
writers translate Meeltenagh "harmless fire," and
state that this was the place where the story of
the gleaming embers originated. But the tradi-
tion of the people of Ardagh, told by Father
Farrelly in the year 1837, cannot be disregarded.
Meelick ; mitecc, insulated piece of land.
Melkernagh ; miOtCe^R11A15, Carney's hill.
MlNARD ; tmntl AtlT), high shrubbery.
176
PLACE-NAMES.
177
MOATFARRELL ; tTlOUA tJI JpeAft$Alt.
Moat-Farrell was the place where the kings
of Anghaile were formerly inaugurated. On
an appointed day the newly-elected chief rode
a richly caprisoned charger to the place of
inauguration. There, surrounded by the sub-
chiefs, bishops, abbots, poets, brehons, etc., the
hereditary ollamh read aloud the law and the
ancient customs, which the elected swore to
observe and to rule his people justly. A wand
straight and white was then placed in the hand
of the newly-elected, standing on the inaugural
stone. The straightness of the wand was to
him a sign that his public conduct should be
straight or just ; while its whiteness told him
that it should be without stain. With this wand
in his hand, he turned three times from right
to left, and three times from left to right, in
honour of the Holy Trinity. Then, as a sign of
submission, the Chief Marshal put a sandal on
his foot. Beginning with the senior all in turn
pronounced his surname loudly, and this ended
the ceremony. The horse and trappings, and
royal robes, according to custom, became the
property of the Chief Marshal.
O'Farrell, sometimes written 6 pijigit (and
now Anglicised Freel, without the prefix O),
was a common name in Tirconnell. M
i78
PLACE-NAMES OF THE
Moatavalley; ttlOUA At! t)6AtA1§, moat by
the road.
Moanbeg ; mOin t>6A5, small bog,
MOANARD ; mOm ATIT), high bog.
Moanduff ; tttOW TWt), black bog
MOANMORE; mOm m Otl, large bog.
Moheraveen ; m0tA1R6 rhltl, smooth plain.
Molly; motAlfte, brows of hill.
MOLLYGLASS; ttlOtAttte AS A, green brows.
MOLLYROE; tnotAI'Oe tttUVOA, red brows.
Monabull ; mOm tl A DpoUl, bog of the holes.
MONADARAGH ; mOm t1AT)ARAC, bog of the oaks.
MONASCALLAGHAN ; mOltl eASA CeAttACAW,
bog of Callaghan's cataract.
Essaun (6<\f <in), little cataract. The Salmon
Leap at Ballyshannon was formerly called Assa-
roe (eaf-Ao'o-tltiAi'o), or the Cataract of Red
Hugh. This Hugh was high king whose
daughter, Macha, with her 66 mum, or neck
jewel, marked out the ground on which was
raised the great fortress of Emain, about 330 B.C.
Emain (derived from 66 mum), by dropping the
a of the article and aspirating the m, An Emain,
becomes n-Emkain} i.e.} Navan, the name by
COUNTY LONGFORD.
179
which the great fortress is now known. Scardan
(ScAjroAn), in parish of Kiltubride (C1VI UiobjiAfo,
i.e., Church of the Well), County Leitrim, means
a cascade. — Oy Donovan.
Moneen ; mOltlin, small bog.
MONEYHOOLIVAN ; mOltl til StHtteAt)<AlH,
Sullivan's bog.
SuAle&bhn is derived from ftiit, eye, and
'OiibAn, dark ; Sullivan then means dark-eyed,
Canavan, derived from ce<vnn, head, and "Cuban,
means dark head or dark-haired. Donovan, i.e.,
T)onn4b<Mr>, is derived from T>orm, brown, and
•cuban ; Donovan, then, means dark-brown com-
plexion.— Tongue of the Gael.
MONEYFODA ; ttltntie £AT)A, long shrubbery.
MONEYLAGGAN ; mOttAlt) tAgAltl, hollow bog.
MONKSTOWN ; t)Alte X\A mAtlAC.
Manach is a Gaelicised form of the Latin
monachus. Ctoc-bAite-r)4-m<MiAc was the former
name of Clough, in the parish of Abbeylara,
because there was a monastery here, a branch
house of the monastery in Abbeylara, to which
it paid yearly tithes of corn value forty shillings.
MOSTRIM ; meAtUS OUnm, fertile ridge.
This place-name is seldom seen except in
Church Records. The place is better known by
i8o
PLACE-NAMES OF THE
the name Edgeworthstown, after the Edgeworth
family, who have been living here for the past two
or three hundred years. Maria Edgeworth, a mem-
ber of this family, wrotewell in the English tongue-
About twenty perches to the west of the
ruins of the old Abbey (about which I could
gather nothing), is St. Bearach's (Barry) holy
well, now unknown and unheeded. He was the
same who lived at Tarmonbarry. St. Bearach
was probably the patron saint of Meathustruim.
This parish is now (I think) under the tutelage
of the Blessed Virgin Mary, feast 15th August.
Dr. Healy tells us that every diocesan patron
and almost every parochial saint had his holy
well, of which the memory is now sometimes
lost. I believe St. Barry and his holy fountain
no longer hold a place in the memory of the
people of Mostrim. Perhaps some pious person
reading this might clear away the choking weeds
and grass and place beside the well some me-
mento of St. Barry. This simple act would
revive some knowledge of the saint and help to
perpetuate his memory, unhappily sinking into
oblivion. It will be seen in another part of this
little work, what the late Mr. Fagan, of Lisma-
caffrey, did out of veneration for St. Fintain and
his holy fountain. *6eif An Ajro-ftioj; 50 ftAib
Anam ConcobAip aji feA^nApoppAitieAccA. Amen.
COUNTY LONGFORD.
181
Mount Davis ; cttlAltl CtieArh, lawn of wild
garlic.
MOY ; mA§, a plain.
MOYBEG ; m&£ t)et!5, little plain.
Moybrackery ; tTlAg t)tieACtlA1$e, speckled
plain.
This was the ancient name of Street.
"Sraid (Street) of Maghbreacraighe was burned
by the Baron of Delvin, both Church and houses
and many preying and burning committed be-
twixt them, to wit the Nugents and Herberts in
1465." — Four Masters.
" The castle of Maghbreacraighe stood at the
village of Street and was broken by 6 Fearghail
(O'Farrell), and MacHerbert's son killed 455."
This parish should bear a name which would
perpetuate the memory of St. Fintain, who was
probably the founder of it.
MOYDARAGH ; tHAj T)AtlAC, field of oaks.
MOYDOW ; mA<5 TMfhA, plain of mound.
Cill-Modhint (St. Modhint's Church) was the
ancient name of Moydow. St. Modhint died
jgi, his feast falls on 12th February. Clann
Auliffe O'Fearghail had a castle at Moydow,
they owned also the churches of Moydow,
and Kilashee and Abbeydearg. St. Modhint's
182
PLACE-NAMES OF THE
Church was destroyed by fire in the year 1155.
"l P^t1 00 "ourha Oichiioen aic a put 111 chfiof
AN>nV "and westward to the mound of
Ochiden,a place where there is a celebrated cross."
"This passage settles the signification of the
word t)UTTi<x, which enters into the composition
of many topographical names in Ireland, and
which O'Brien, and after him, O'Reilly, explain a
'place of gaming.' Its true meaning is a mound,
a tumulus." — Nennius, edited by Dr. Todd.
MOYGH ; tTlAg, a plain.
MOYGLASS ; triAg 5LAS, green plain.
MOYNE ; ttlA1$111, little plain.
Moyrath; RAite.
Muckinagh ; mtnce<\nAC,a placewhere pigs feed.
MUCKINISH ; mtlC 1111S, hog's island.
MULLABAWN ; muttAC tX&ll, white summit.
MULLACLAR ; muttAC CtAlft, top of the plain.
MULLAGH ; mtltlAC, a summit.
MULLAHAWORNEEN ; ttltlttAC A' 1111111111111, hill
of the lover.
MULLAGHNASHEE ; ItttlUAC HA SVOe, hill of
the fairies.
MULLALOGHER ; ttltlttAC UlACtt AC, sedgy height.
COUNTY LONGFORD.
183
MULLANROE ; tYltnUeAtiri tttlAt), red mill.
Uewe irUobouiri was the former name of this
townland ; it means Muldoon's fire. Part of
this townland, which is large, was called Cloon-
erla (CtuAin-iAfita), because it belonged to one
of the Nugents who lived in Aughnagarron, be-
low Thomas R. Reilly's. He built on a bank of
good land and the avenue leading to his place
is plainly visible. The Nugents got large pos-
sessions in Longford in the reigns of Elizabeth
and Mary.
MULLAGHAWOCKRISH ; ttttlttAC A' tilACtltlAIS,
hill of the amusement; or TtluttAc ah Thacrmif,
\\ taking the place of n, as in the case of cj\oc
for cnoc. — T. Concannon.
This hill is at Henry Rodger's, in the town-
land of Derrycassan, on the shores of Loch
Gowna. It was formerly a place where the
youth assembled for amusement.
"And many a gambol frolicked o'er the ground,
And sleights of art and feats of strength went
round."
When Dopping, the landlord, took possession
of Derrycassan and its neighbourhood, this plea-
sure ground became deserted, and the amuse-
ments there a thing of the past. One would
PLACE-NAMES OF THE
imagine Goldsmith was describing this place
when he wrote : —
" Sweet smiling village, loveliest of the lawn,
Thy sports are fled and all thy charms withdrawn ;
Amidst thy bowers the tyrant's hand is seen,
And desolation saddens all thy green !"
Mullaworna; mtlttAC ThOltine, Moran's
hill. — O Donovan.
MULLANALACTA ; tTMtlAC HA teACUA, high
ground of the monuments.
" Leacht) cognate with the Latin lectuSy means
a honorary monument of any kind, generally a
heap of stones." — Cf Donovan.
A leacht marked the graves of distinguished
foreigners, also the graves of those who died by
the sword. Great warriors were buried erect
that they might fight, even in death, against
their enemies.
This was the Druidical burial ceremony: —
The corpse being placed in the grave, the Chief
Seanchuidhe read aloud the pedigree of the
deceased down to its source, then the Chief
Bard, or Ard-fileadh sang a caoine, the words
of which told of the bravery, honour, and hospi-
tality of the deceased. A cry was then raised
by all present, which terminated with each one
COUNTY LONGFORD.
185
casting a stone over the grave. The whole
burial ceremony was told in these words :"*Oo
jiirme a toi Agtif a teacc," i.e., " they recited his
apotheosis and raised his leacht." — O'Halloran.
MULLANGEE; mtntteAtltl gAOICe* a wind
mill.
This place is convenient to Granard.
" Gerald O'Farrell of Leitrim possessed many
cartrons along with the windmill juxta Gran-
ard."— Inquisitions of Elizabeth.
*5A0icin, the diminutive form of 540c, enters into surnames
and is Anglicised Wyndham.
EWTOWN; b^ite nil AT).
Newtownbond; C1tt
tTI AOt, bald church, or church
without a cross.
Newtowncashel ; C O tl
HA mirhCA, round hill of
the cauldron.
Newtownforbes (sometimes Castle Forbes) ;
VlOS t)1ieAC, speckled fort.
"This name (MacFirbhisigh), however, has
been modernised to Forbes and the green mound
that marks the site of the Castle of the old
seanachie clan is known as * Castle Forbes.'"
This quotation carries our minds and imagi-
nations away to another castle (now a heap of
debris) of the same name near Iniscrone, in
County Sligo. This castle was built by the
186
PLACE-NAMES.
MacFirbhisigh in 1 560, in the townland of
Leacan (which means shelving hill-side), on the
banks of the River Muaidh (now Moy).
From Dathi, the last pagan monarch of Erinn,
who,according to O'Curry, was killed in427A.D.,at
the foot of the Alps, were descended the learned
family of the MacFirbhisigh, who were profes-
sional and hereditary historians, genealogists,
bards, and seanachies to the princes of Con-
naught.
By a member of this family, Gilla Isa Mor
MacFirbhisigh, was compiled, in 1416, the great
Book of Lecan (an extract from which, given to-
wards the end of this book, explains the origin
and antiquity of the place-name Inny [River]).
The Book is now in the library of the Royal
Irish Academy. The Chronicum Scotorum (com-
menced in Gal way in 1650), and the Book of
Genealogies* can claim for their author, Dubhal-
tach, or Dudley, the last, and probably the
greatest, of the learned family of the Mac-
Firbhisigh.
The story of the death of Dubhaltach Mac-
Firbhisigh is sad to narrate. In the year 1670,
*<A5uf cujAfo fst11^116 An teAOAift ceu-onA -oo riio|iti5A-6
gtoijie *Oe <A5*»r *oo $eunAiii iuit *oo cac 1 ccoircinne," ue,f And
the cause of writing the same book is to increase the glory of
God and to give knowledge to all men in general.
PLACE-NAMES OF THE
in the very heat of the penal laws, the famous
old scholar was travelling to Dublin to visit
Robert, the son of Sir James Ware. At the vil-
lage of Dunflin, in the parish of Skreen,* County
Sligo, he took lodgings for the night. While
sitting in his room a man named Crofton en-
tered the shop and began to take liberties with
a young female behind the counter. She, to
check his freedom, drew his attention to the
old man in the next room, whereupon Crofton
snatched a knife from the counter and, rushing
into the room, plunged it into the heart of
MacFirbhisigh. " Thus at the hand of a wanton
assassin ended the life of the last of the regularly
educated and most accomplished masters of the
history, antiquities and laws and language of
ancient Erinn." — 0' Curry.
But to return to Castle Forbes of Lecan
MicFirbhisigh. It was knocked down many
years ago by an "improving" landlord, and a
mound of rubbish is all that now remains to
mark the spot where once stood the castle of
Clan MacFirbhisigh, the home of native wit,
worth and learning. — Smyth.
* Skreen means a shrine; thus Tullynascreen (CutAij; tia
Serine), in parish of Killenummery (CiUl An ummAtfie, i.e.f
Church of the ridge), County Leitrim, means holm of the
shrine. — & Donovan.
COUNTY LONGFORD.
189
NOUGHAVEL ; ntlAt) COttgtKMt, new habitation.
Congbhail is derived from con> together, and
bailey a home. Nuadhcongbhail was the ancient
name of the town of Navan ; there was also
a place of this name in Westmeath, on the
borders of Longford. St. Fachtna, of whom
nothing is now remembered, was patron. The
Nuadhcongbhail in County Longford is situated
on the shores of Loch Ribh (Ree).
rity, and is said to be destructive on bees. The
yew tree was formerly very plentiful and has
given to many places its name,
The archer's destructive
long bow was made from
yew wood. The yew takes
a long time to come to matu-
wood.
ARKA; pAlttCe, pasture
fields.
P ARK AROWLEY; pAltlC
til UOtlAin, Rowleys field.
Parkaleen ; pAlftC A tin,*
flax field.
Parkeen ; pAIRCItl, little pasture field.
PARKNAGRANN ; pA1RC HA 5-CRAtin, pasture
of the trees.
Pallas ; ATI pAtAS, a palace, a fairy place.
PALLASMORE ; pAtAS in6ll, large palace.
* From Uon, fiax, comes teme, a linen garment; a shirt.
190
PLACE-NAMES*
Portanure; potlU 4t1 1tlt)A1tl, bank of the
yew tree.
lubati is derived from eu, good, and barry the
top, z>., good or evergreen top.
Powlas; pSl&S.
This is a fancy name given to the townland
of Moorhill by Parson Bond. — 0 'Donovan.
Prospect ; UOb^tt, a well.
This place is near Bunlaghy.
PRUCKLISH; btlOC L<d1Se, badger's warren.
From bjioc, a badger, is derived the surname?
Brogan (bpo^Ain).
PULLAGH ; pottAC, full of holes.
PULLABOY ; poULd btH'be, yellow holes.
PULLAGHDOOEY ; pott A' TMbAIT), hole of the
black colouring stuff.
This place got its name from a black sub-
stance found down deep in bogholes, and which
was used for dying purposes. It produced a
dull black colour which was improved by a mix-
ture of oak. Pullaness (pott <\n e^f a, hole or
pond of the Cascade), between Rathmore and
Aughnacliff, in parish of Columcille.
192
PLACE-NAMES.
PURTHAWAHERA ; PORU A tfldCAllie, bank of
the plain.
Now contracted to Purth.
PURTANEOCHT ; pORU Atl eoCUA, bank of the
breast.
It is on the road between Leitrim and Car-
rick-on-Shannon. The original name of Carrick-
on-Shannon was Caji<y6 *Opom<\ tluif c, i.e., Weir
of the Watery Ridge. — Four Masters.
UAKER ISLAND; OlteAtl-tlA-
SeACU - T)-UeAinptltt> Island of
the Seven Churches; now Inis Clo-
thrann in Lough Ree.
The churches are as follows : —
{a) Temple Diarmid.
(&) Temple Clogas, or Square Belfry.
(c) Temple Muire, or Lady's Church.
(d) No name known.
(e) Church of the Dead.
(/) Templemore.
(g) No name known.
ATHWALDRON: TlAC
UAVOtlOtl, Waldron's fort:
Renaghan; UAiuneACAti
a fern shrubbery.
Mackanranny (THe^c^n |iaic-
mge, Land of parsnips and of
fern), situated near Mount Temple, County
Westmeath. — G Donovan.
Renaghanbawn ; ft^iuneACdn t)Att, white
fern shrubbery.
This place is now Anglicised Fern-borro\
RHYNE ; ftOltltl, a division.
In parish of Killoe.
RlNARNEY ; mrm AltltieAt), point of the sloe-
trees.
This is a point opposite Saints' Island in Loch
Ribh (Ree). It is now written "Arnee Point"
193 N
194
PLACE-NAMES OF THE
on the map. Officials in the pay of the English
Government have done their part in the work of
Anglicisation.
RlNCOOLAGH ; tlMtl CUtAC, corner point.
RlNE ; tlinn, a headland.
Lough Rinn, near Mohill * got its name from a
neck of land stretching into the lake. On this
headland was built one of the castles of muincifi
edl&Mf (z\e.y the people of Eolas, who was the
thirty-seventh in descent from Conmac, who
was the progenitor of all the Conmaicne). This
castle was in the possession of Melaghlin Mac-
Rannal (Reynolds), who owned many cartrons
of land. It is worthy of note that Maelsechlainn,
which means one devoted to St. Sechnall, who
was the founder of the church of Dunshaughlin,
County Meath, was pronounced Melaghlin, and
is now Anglicised Malachy, as a Christian name,
and MacLaughlin as a surname.
Rinneny; ttOltltl 6lttie, Enna's divi-
sion.— O1 Donovan.
RiNGOWNEY ; TlOltin 5Arht1A15, calf s division.
RAHANISKE ; tlAt AW tUSCe, fort of the water.
* Mohill means soft land ; its former name was ttUotAit riUtiA-
cAin, i.e., the Mohill where St. Manchin had his monastery, to
distinguish it from other places of the name m^ot-ait.
COUNTY LONGFORD.
195
Ramoge ; UAU 1U015, Moges fort.— O 'Donovan.
Rath ; tl^U, an artificial mound.
Raith ; 11<\U, same meaning.
Ratharney ; Kl&t A1tina<y6, fort of the sloe-
tree.
Rathclittagh (tlac cleiceAc, fort of the plumes
or feathers), situated near Rathowen, County
Westmeath.
Rathbawn ; tlAt t)An, white rath.
Uac tuific was the former name of Charle-
ville, in County Cork.
Rathbracken ; Xl&t t>tl&ACdlfl, speckled fort.
RATHCLINE ; UAU CtAOItl,* sloping rath.
The inversion of this name will give Clienrah
(CtAon-tlAc), a townland in parish of Columcille.
O'Quinn (6 Cuinn), Lord of Rathcline, had
a castle near the hill of Rathcline; it was
destroyed by Cromwell. Within the parish
boundary is Inchenagh, an island of sixty acres.
In the year 183 1 there were six human habita-
tions and thirty-five souls on this island. Weav-
ing linen and making frieze was the industry.
Crummey (CfiomAi-d, inclining- ground), a townland in parish
of Kiltubride, County Leitrim. Gortnawaun (^Ojic tia bpAn,
field of the slopes), situated on side of Sliabhaniarainn, also
in parish of Kiltubride.
196 PLACE-NAMES OF THE
RATHCOR ; RAt CORR, odd fort.
RATHCRONAN ; RAt CROttAItt, Cronan's fort.
" In 1 166 Matudan, grandson of Cronan, Lord
of Cairbre Grabha (now barony of Granard) was
killed at Granard." — Four Masters. Probably
the Cronan mentioned in this quotation owned
the rath and made it his fortress. The greater
part of the present town of Granard is situated
in Rathcronan.
Rathmore; RAU ttl OR, large fort.
RATHRAY ; RAU R1AC, grey fort.
Now Foxhall.
RATHSALLA ; RAU SAtAC, dirty fort.
SaIacau, full of mire, now Sollaghan, parish
of Scrabby, County Cavan. t^ibAn, in parish of
Ballyloughloe (bAite Loca Luaca), now Mount
Temple, County Westmeath, has same mean-
ing.— (J Donovan.
RlNROE; Rltltl RUAt), red point.
RiNROOEY; Rltltl RUt)A, point where the plant
called rue grows.
RlNVANNY; Rirm t)eAnnA1§e, point of the
peak or headland. (Mount) Neiphinn is derived
from neimh, bright {Dinneen, p. 5 1 8), and bheann%
a peak or summit. Ben Nevis, the highest moun-
COUNTY LONGFORD.
197
tain in Scotland, has the same meaning. Beann
Gulban (now Ben Bulbiny near Sligo), where
Conaill Gulban was fostered. Beanna Beola,
Twelve "Pins" (Bens) of Beola, in Connemara.
Barr-na-Beinne is the name of the summit of
Sliabh-an-iarainn in the County Leitrim. From
barr, the top, comes beretta. Cut bin (now Culvin,
in parish of Street), back of peak. — (J Donovan.
ROBINSTOWN ; ueitie pot)Alt, fire of the tribe.
This townland got its name from a great fire
around which the tribe gathered. The Druids
lighted fires on May-day and drove cattle be-
tween them, with incantations, as a safeguard
against diseases of the coming year ; hence
beAtcAine (May-day) is derived from Bza/y an
idol god, and teine, fire.
The Druids, instructed by St. Patrick, put
out these fires on the 1st May, and lighted them
on St. John's eve, 23rd June, in honour of that
Saint. This custom (now dying out) is very
old, for the ceme £eiLe Coin, the fire of the
Feast of John the Baptist, is mentioned in books
of the tenth century.
ROCKFIELD ; pAltlC WA CAWRAX^e.
This place is now Anglicised Dalystowji,
198
PLACE-NAMES.
ROSDUFF ; tlOS *Otlt), black wood.
Ttof means also promontory. Ros-d&shoileach,
i.e., promontory of the two willow-trees, was the
ancient name of the city of Limerick. — (J Flaherty.
ROOA ; tltlAt), red bog.
ROOSE; IVUtXA, abounding in rue, which is a
plant with a bitter taste.
ROSMODDY ; IIOS tHATDAt), dogs' wood.
ROSROE ; UOS lltlAt), red wood.
ROSSAN ; tlOSAtt, small wood, shrubbery.
RUSSAGH ; UOS eAC, wood of the steeds.
This place is in the parish of Rathowen, or
rather Russagh was formerly joined to Rathowen.
"MacRustaing,a famous jester, was buried in Rus-
sagh. It is said no woman can look at his grave
without uttering a foolish laugh." — Kuno Meyer.
MacRustaing was the maternal brother of
St. Coemain Brec, and was probably an eccle-
siastic, as he is spoken of as one of the eight
distinguished scholars of Armagh, about the
year 740. St. Coemain Brec, Abbot of Roseach,
died 14th September, 615 A.D. — Dr. Todd.
There are at Russagh the ruins of an old
church and graveyard, also a mount on which
grows a bush said to be the centre of Ire-
land,— O* Donovan.
AINTS ISLAND; OlteAtl
x\& tiAorh.
After the dissolution of the
monastery, built by St. Ciaran
in 554, on this island, a convent
was erected in the thirteenth
century, by Sir H. Dillon, for
the Poor Clares, called the " Convent of Beth-
lehem." In 1642 some soldiers made a raid on
the island, but the nuns made good their escape
to another island called since then, Nuns' Island.
Dillon of Kilkenny West having heard of this
outrage, collected his followers, attacked and
killed the soldiers. In the library at Oxford
is preserved a book of annals written on this
Island by Augustine MacGraidin, who died in
1405. The island is now connected with the
mainland by a causeway,
199
200
PLACE-NAMES OF THE
Sallow Island; oiteAtl tiA SAiteOg, island
of the little willow or sallow trees.
Saileog is the diminutive of sail, which is
derived from the old Irish word sofilltiy soft.
SCRAMOGE ; SCtieAmOg, an excrescence.
- SCREEBOGE; SCReAt)05, underwood, also a
marsh.
SHANMULLAGH ; seAH-rhUttAC, old summit.
Sean cuac, old round hollow ; situated in
Tirerrill, County Sligo. A branch of the
learned family of the O'Duigenans lived here ;
they wrote the (now lost) Book of Glenda-
lougk. — 0' Curry.
SHANTUM ; SeAtl-UOtTI, old thicket.
SHARVOGE ; seARt)05, bitter grass.
SHLIGAN ; StljteAn, a little road.
SHREEROE ; SIX) TltlAt), literally, red fairy.
As it was thought that fairies had their cij\-
nA ri-65, or heaven, in the interior of hills, hence
pt), a fairy, came to mean a fairy-hill. An c-Si*6
mofi, great hill; a remarkable excrescence in the
parish of Kiltoghert, County Leitrim. — O' Dono-
van.
SliREWAN ; S1U)UA1t1, a rivulet.
COUNTY LONGFORD.
201
Shrewanfilan ; snut&m t)AOi$eAttAin,
Boylan's rivulet.
This is the name of a stream in Upper
Creevy, parish of Abbeylara. Sfiot<\n means a
little fish-stream.
Slieve ; StlAt), a mountain, also a moor; some-
times applied to upland covered with heath.
Slieve Cairbre; stlAt) CAltlt>tl6*
This was the name of the mountainous
district to the north of the barony of Granard.
It was called after Cairbre, the eldest son
of Niall of the Nine Hostages. Part of this
mountainous district is very barren, owing, it is
said, to St. Patrick's curse for the grave insult
he received from those who offered him a dressed
hound for dinner. This ridge of hills, commenc-
ing at Cairn-hill and stretching into Colum-cille,
and Drumard, formed the dividing line between
Muintir Eolais and Carbury. From the old
books we know that Muintir Eolais extended
from Lough Allen to Corn-hill {rede, Cairn-
hill).
* Slieve Cairbre was the northern, and the River Inny the
southern, boundary of Annaly. — & Donovan*
202 PLACE-NAMES OF THE
Slieve Golry ; stiAt) s-cAttunge *
The more ancient name of this hill was
Bri-Leitk, t,e.f the hill of Liath. Its present
name comes from the ancient name of the dis-
trict in which it is situated. From Bri came
Breffney, the name of that large hilly territory
which extended from Drumcliff, in County Sligo,
to Kells, in Meath. It included the whole of
Leitrim and Cavan Counties, and parts of Sligo
and Meath, and was the territory of the
O'Rourkes and O'Reillys.
In the interior of Slieve Golry, according to
an old legend, Midir, a noted fairy of the Tuatha
Dedannan race, had his cip n<\ n-65, or heavenly
country. The following is a translation by
O'Curry, of an old description of Midir 's palace,
under the sidh of Bri-Liath : —
" O Befind, wilth thou come with me,
To a wonderful land that is mine,
Where the hair is like the blossom of the golden
sobarche,f
Where the tender body is as fair as snow.
* Sliabh in Scotland means a marshy place or land on the
side of barren hills. "M6in, a bog", would nearly correspond
to the Scottish meaning of sliabh, and is cognate with the
Latin, mons, a mountain." Mdintedn in Irish means mountain
land, and from it comes the English word mountain.
t Primrose,
COUNTY LONGFORD.
203
" There shall be neither grief nor care ,
White are the teeth, black the eyebrows,
Pleasant to the eye the number of our host ;
On every cheek is the hue of the fox glove.
" Crimson of the plain is each brake,
Delightful to the eye the blackbird's eggs ;
Tho' pleasant to behold are the plains of Inisfail,
Rarely wouldst thou think of them after frequent-
ing the great plain.
"Though intoxicating thou deemest the ales of
Inisfail,
More intoxicating are the ales of the great land —
The wonderful land — the land I speak of,
Where youth never grows to old age.
"Warm sweet streams traverse the land,
The choicest of mead and wine ;
Handsome people without blemish,
Conception without sin, without stain.
" We see everyone on every side,
And no one seeth us ;
The cloud of Adam's transgression
Has caused this concealment of us from them.
"O lady, if thou comest to my valiant people,
A diadem of gold shall be on thy head ;
Flesh of swine, all fresh, banquets of new milk
and ale,
Shalt thou have with me there, O Befind."
204
PLACE-NAMES OF THE
This Midir was a famous chess player; his
chess board was of solid silver and gold, orna-
mented at each corner with diamonds of the
richest hue. Mananan MacLir was another
famous fairy who was called Neptune (derived
from tiAorhca, sacred, and corm, a wave), or god
of the ocean. His ciji n<x n-65 was at Lake
Enniskeen, in County Monaghan. Having got
some unpleasant tidings from St. Columcille, he
took his exit one morning for Armenia. He
was succeeded by MacMoineanta, who was chief
of the Ulster "good people." This gentleman
took up his residence on the hill of Ballymac-
killeany, now the hill of Scrabby, in the County
Cavan.
Among the seven bu<v6<\, or prerogatives, of
the King of Tara was pfieAcmeAp, or heath-fruit,
from Bri-Liath, in County Longford, to be sent
to him in August. — Book of Rights.
SMEARE ; smeAtl, blackberry.
Sonnagh ; SOtltlAlt), a mound, a palisade *
* tTltjfttAti is another name for a mound. There is on the
south-eastern shore of Loch Allen (toe -Aittmne), off the road
leading from Drumsheanbo to Drumreilly, a small wall or
mound (probably the remnant of an ancient church) called
mufttAn. It is this ancient ruin that has given the name
Murthan (pronounced Murthaun), to parish of Drumshean-
bo."— 0? Donovan.
COUNTY LONGFORD. 205
— — - ■ - - - - .|T. _.|fr 1ir. n||r
SPRINGPARK ; tOtlgAtl, leg-shaped.
SORAN ; SOtttl, a kiln, or place for making lime.
Soran Kelly; sontl Hi CeAUA1§, Kelly's
lime-kiln.
Cloonave (CtuAin Atria, lawn of kiln), situated
in parish of Street, County Westmeath.
Soran Scanlan ; sotin trf scAtititAiti.
Soran Coyle; sotiti tine §iottACAOiU
SRAID ; All Z-SR&IT), the street.
In parish of Temple-Michael.
Sragarrow; STt&t gAtlt), rough holm, or river-
meadow.
Setrassaun (Sjiau *OpiofAri), Sragarn (Sjtac
cajiti), townlands in parish of Mohill, mean,
respectively, holm of the brambles and holm of
the cairns. — 0} Donovan.
Sraigormely; sUAt tii gotimptAit,
Gormely's holm.
This is the name of a place in the townland
of Derrycassan. Dopping's avenue runs through
it now. People of the name Gormely lived here
formerly, hence the name. Shrabra (Stuc bpeag,
beautiful srath); in parish of Kilronan,
206
PLACE-NAMES.
Street; cAisteAti tiA sn&me.
ITlAg tfyeAcpAije, which means speckled plain,
was the ancient name of Street. The former
name of Broomstreet (near Mohill, County
Leitrim), was Spawn* tiA fcuAb.
Streamstown'; t)A1te All U-SftUUAItl, town of
the stream.
I AGSHEENODE; UOAC-
S1t115-0l5e, church or cell of
the Virgin Sineach. — 0? Dono-
van.
A house is called teach in reference to the
roof or covering {tectum). Tigh is the word
used in Munster for a house ; toigk, in Ulster ;
in Meath tigh> stigk, stagh were in use. Taugh-
boyne is derived from UeAc bAecin, z>., St.
Baethin's Church, County Donegal. Stillorgany
derived from U15 LopcAin, Lorc&n's house. Ted-
avnet {toigh Damhnaidhe)y County Monaghan.
Tarmon ; ue^RmAnn, glebe-land*
Tearmann, derived from the old Irish, ter-
mondd, means a sanctuary or protection. In a
* u Let the Terminus of a holy place have marks about it
Wherever you find the sign of the Cross of Christ do not do
any injury. Three persons consecrate a Terminus, a king",
a bishop, and the people/' — Lanigan.
207
208 PLACE-NAMES OF THE
secondary sense it means land attached to a
church, defined with pillar-stones and crosses,
within which the fugitive found safety. Secular
chiefs could not exact taxes from the inhabitants
of the tearmann% but the latter were subject to
the church or monastery to which their lands
belonged, and paid rent to it.
Tarmonbarry; ueATtmAritt beAtiAig,
St. Bearach's (Barry) tarmon or sanctuary.
I shall give here a brief sketch of the life of
St. Barry.
St. Patrick having failed to convert the people
of that part of Leitrim around Cloon, uttered
the following prophecy: "Brethren, have patience
for a while, for after me shall soon appear a
man to be born in these parts and of this very
race, who will remove error from among them
by his life and doctrine. Not alone shall he
convert this pervert and fierce clan you now
behold, but even many other people such as
these are shall he bring as gentle lambs to Christ
by his powerful reasoning.,, This prophecy was
verified.
The saintly old Fraech, who lived at Cloon,
County Leitrim, having finished his prayers,
took a walk out one midnight and saw a " bright
luminous halo" over the house of his brother-in-
COUNTY LONGFORD.
209
law, Nemnald, who lived at Gortnaluachra (field
of rushes),* near Cloon River, in Conmaicne of
Muintir-Eolais, now South Leitrim. Wondering
what this brightness at such an hour meant, he
said to his disciple : " Go to the house of Nem-
nald and see has my sister given birth to a son,
and, if so, bring the . boy to me." The disciple
did so, and brought back to Fraech a beautiful
baby. The child was to be called Fintan, but
when at the font the parents suggested that it
should be called Bearach (now Barry). "Rightly,"
answered Fraech, "has this name been given
to him, for this boy shall be a saint, and his
place shall be in heaven." (" Bearach means one
who takes a direct and an exact aim at an
object." — Colgan.)
Till the age of seven years the boy lived with
Uncle Fraech, who then sent him to the School
of Dagaeus, at Iniscaoin, in County Louth.
After a time Dagaeus, seeing the great sanctity
and intelligence of young Bearach, gave him a
tomcat seAjijt, or short crozier, and sent him to
St. Kevin of Glendalough.f This crozier is now
to be seen in the Museum of the Royal Irish
Academy. After spending some time under
* Gortnaluachra is midway between Cloon and Mohill.
t gteAtiti -OA toe, Valley of the two lakes, originally gteAtiti
T)e, or Valley of God.
O
2 10
PLACE-NAMES OF THE
St. Kevin, Bearach was directed by Providence
to place his baggage on a deer and to follow its
course. The deer brought him to an unknown
place which the young Saint called Chiain-
coirpthe, i.e., meadow of corruption, in reference
to some dead bodies which he found on his
arrival there, which place is now called Kilbarry
[Cllt-beApAig), or St. Barry's Church.
Now Bearach got into trouble with a Druid
regarding the possession of Cluain-coirpthe. The
case was referred to Aedan, King of Scotland,
who decided that Hugh the Black, of Breffney,
and Hugh, King of Teffia, should be judges in
the case. On behalf of Bearach the two holy
virgins of Clonbroney, Samthann and Attracta
were called in. The Black King of Breffney
being somewhat ashamed of his appearance, felt
unwilling to appear before "so many fine respec-
table men and women.'5 He asked Bearach to
remove his deformity. It is fabled that the
Saint did so, and that the Black King was ever
afterward called * Aodhfionn," or "Hugh the
Fair." He was the progenitor of the O'Rourkes
and O'Reillys of Breffney, and lived about
574 a.d. Meantime death had removed the
obdurate Druid, and Bearach took possession
of Cluain-coirpthe, and erected a monastery at
COUNTY LONGFORD.
211
the place now called Kilbarry, in the parish of
Tarmonbarry. Some distance above the bridge
of Tarmonbarry, and near the old church, is St.
Bearach's (Barry's) Well. The Saint had another
holy well at Mostrim {recte, Meathustruim).
Tashinny; ueAC S1t11§ * St. Shineach's Church.
Teach is sometimes applied to a church or
priory. In the twelfth century there was a
priory founded at Nenagh called Teach-Eoin,
because it was dedicated to St. John the Baptist.
Eoin being the old Irish name for John.
TEEMORE; Ulj m OR, big house.
Tinode (U15 au p6it)), house of the sod; in
parish of Street. — O Do7iovan.
Temple Michael; ceAmptltt rhicit, St.
Michael's Church.
This is the ancient name of the present parish
of Longford. One-and-a-half cartrons of land
were attached to Temple Michael.
Temple Diarmaid; ueAmpuU, t>iAfttriA>0<\,
Diarmaid's Church.
This is an old diminutive church built on the
eastern side of Inis Clothrann,in Loch Ribh(Ree).
* " In 1223 26 feet were added to the Church of Tigh
Sincha, in County Longford, by the priest of the town, Mael
Magorman." M In 12 17 Gilchrist Magorman, the great priest
of Tashinny, in County Longford, died on his pilgrimage to
the sanctuary on Inis Clothrann."
212 PLACE-NAMES OF THE
Temple Mary; ceAtnptitt rhtime, church
dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
1Tlui|ie is a special name for Mary, the Mother
of God ; all other women of the name Mary
are called, in Irish, til Aijie. Teampull Mhuire is
one of the seven churches on Inis Clothrann.
It has no history worth recording.
TENELICK; C1§ tlA teice, house of the flag-
stone.
Tisaran (Ci5-SA|iAin), St. Saran's church or
cell. In parish of Ferbane, King's County.
TENALOUGH; C15 11 A toC, house by the ponds.
TEERHENNESSY ; OR AOngUSA, Angus' dis-
trict.
1TlAot-cinn-ci|Ae (now Mull of Cantire), bald
point of headland.
Teerlicken ; U1R LeiC1t1, a district abounding
in flag-stones.
"There is a holy well in townland of Teerlicken,
County Longford, called St. Patrick's." — Oy Dono-
van.
Thum ; com, a thicket.
This place is in parish of Scrabby. It is
politely, but corruptly, now written and pro-,
nounced " Toome."
COUNTY LONGFORD.
213
TlMPAUN ; UIOmpAtl, round hilh
There is also a place of this name in the north-
east of the parish of Kilronan, County Ros-
common.— CP Donovan.
Tinanar; Ulg ttA n-Att, house of the slaughters.
Tipper ; u10t)Atl, a well.
Tobar and tiobraid are other forms of this word.
Druimtiobraid (ie.y ridge of the well) was the
ancient name of Clonmacnoise. Tipper is the
name of a townland in parish of Newtown-
cashel.
TUPPER or TUBBER ; UObdll, a well.
This place is now called " Prospect."
TUPPERAHAFFREY ; UOb^tl SOAFTUMt), Geof-
frey's Well.
Situated in John MacCabe's land, in Clougher-
nal, parish of Abbeylara.
Tupperbride; COt)Atl tttllg^e, St. Brigid's
holy well
This well is in the townland of Banohill, parish
of Ardagh. The learned O' Donovan failed to
give the etymology of Banohill. I therefore
passed it over, because I could not hope to
succeed where that eminent Celtic scholar failed.
The Brigid mentioned here is the "illustrious
veiled woman of Leinster," and Patroness of
214
PLACE-NAMES OF THE
Kildare. According to Eoghan O'Curry and
Professor O'Looney it was St. Mel who professed
St. Brigid, and the ceremony took place at
Ardagh.
TUPPERCLOCREE ; CODAft CtOCtllg, well of the
stone of the king.
This is a holy well near the old church in the
parish of Kilcomock.
TUPPEREENDONEY ; COt)Atl Tt1$ ATI T)0til-
H/&15, well of the King of Sunday.
This is a holy well in the townland of Bally-
boy (b<\ile buit>e), parish of Abbeylara. "A
well of great sanctity, probably of Pagan origin."
— O Donovan. There is another holy well of
the same name in the parish of Ardagh. It is
probable that these holy wells were so named
because people were baptized out of them on
Sunday.
TUPPERFELIM ; COtXAtl £eit)tim, Felim's well.
Felimy derived from fedil-maith^ means ever-
lasting good. This well has given its name to
a townland in the parish of Abbeylara. "It is
not now considered holy, but probably it was
formerly." — CP Donovan. Near it is an old effaced
graveyard, and, men making sewers some years
ago, came upon human bones and boards.
I
!
From Photo by] [Rev. J. MacGivney.
(St. Fintan*s Well, parish of Street.)
COUNTY LONGFORD.
215
Tupperfintan ; UOt>AR piOlltlC&ll, St. Fintan's
well.
From the genitive the baptismal name is gene-
rally taken. — Annals of Ulster.
Rev. Wm. Monaghan, P.P., Street, put a stop
to the Pattern at St. Fintain's Well about 40
years ago. — 0' Donovan, who wrote the above
about 1837.
This is a holy well in a place called Queens-
land, parish of Street. Stations are performed
at it on the first Sunday of harvest. Of the
Saint's Church no trace now remains. It is
traditionally told that the Saint is interred in a
small mound, called on the Ordnance Survey
Map Kinard (recte, Ceann-drd)* high head ;
which mound is to be seen on the bank of
a rivulet to the east of Lismacaffrey. The
Saint's holy well was much neglected till the
late Mr. Con Fagan, of Lismacaffrey, erected
a cross and pailing around it, and left beside it
an At), for drinking its pure water.
TUPPERGOWNA; UOt)Atl gArhriA.
This well got its name from a legend about a
calf. It is said to be the head or source of
Loch Gamhna, which in turn, is said to be the
* " There was a nunnery called ' Kenard,' on the lands of
Clonmore, parish of Street." — O' Donovan.
2x6
PLACE-NAMES OF THE
head or source of Loch Erne. Tobargowna is
in the townland of Rathbracken, parish of
Granard. I don't think it is regarded as holy,
though Dr. O'Donovan says it is a "well of
great sanctity."
Tupperlunny; UOt)Aft Untie, well of the
pond.
TUPPER-NA-MAN-EVE; UOt)Atl tl AftltKVH tlAOttl*
well of the saintesses or holy women.
This holy well is situated in the village of
Abbeylara, on the right-hand side of a small
pass which takes one off the main road from
Granard to the Catholic Church of Abbeylara.
From the name of this well some are inclined to
think that formerly there was a convent in
Abbeylara. " If the saintesses were like our
modern nuns this well would be called cobAp n<*
5-CAiLteAc." — 0s Donovan.
TUPPERPATRICK ; UOt)Atl p A T> 11 A 1 Saint
Patrick's well.
This is the name of a holy well in the town-
land of Thum, parish of Scrabby. There is a
holy well in the townland of Forgney, which
bears this name, though one would think it
should be called after St. Munis, who was
* Not now regarded as holy.
COUNTY LONGFORD.
217
the first Christian bishop of that place. There
is a holy well called after St. Patrick in the
parish of Dromard, and another near Granard-
kill. When St. Patrick came to Granard he
found Cairbre's Druids performing their cere-
monies at a well which lies to the east of Granard-
cille. In order to gradually win over the people
to the true faith, St. Patrick having blessed this
well, permitted the people to continue their
veneration at it, but to offer up their prayers to
the Saviour, and not to the false god of the
fountain. "In 1837 three remarkable ash-trees
(says O'Donovan) grew over this well, two living
and one decayed. There was always left at it an
An or peaba for drinking, but not one of silver,
as of old/' In ancient times kings left silver
cups at wells " for the drinking of weary men/'
If the cups remained undisturbed the king knew
his laws were observed.
TUPPEREVOGUE ; COt>Atl Xl&YOe ftth^e, well
of the soft plain.
Toneen (in parish of Granard); CtlltlTtl, little
bottom land.
Toneen (in parish of Moydow); C0lt11t1, little
paddock.— O'Donovan.
2l8
PLACE-NAMES OF THE
TONNYFUBBLE; ueitie potX<Mt, fire of the tribe.
This place was also called toaite tloibin, now
Robinstown, and it contains two cartrons of
land, or about 200 acres.
TONNYWARDEN; C 0 tt tl U T X) A 11*0 A1 tl,
O'Bardan's bottom land.
Toorfin ; UUR pionn, white tower.
" The tower called Conaing's Tower is said
to have been on an island on the north coast of
Ireland, now called Uojunif, Tower Island,
corrupted into Tory Island." — Dr. Todd.
Toorin ; ctlltlTn, little tower.
TOWNAGH ; UArhtlAC, green field.
Townaghmore; COtlAlt) tTMAft, green great
bottom lands.
On these lands the great monastery of Abbey-
lara was built. No wonder that their name
signifies green, for they were made green and
fertile by the industry of the monks, who culti-
vated them from the days St. Gusacht founded
his monastery there in fifth century, to the
surrender of Tuite's monastery about 1541.
Townaghmore contained two cartrons of land, of
the yearly value of 13/4, at the time of the sur-
render of the monastery. It is now a large
grazing ranch off which the cattle had been
lately driven by night,
COUNTY LONGFORD.
219
Treanboy; CRIAtl tttiroe, yellow ternal divi-
sion.
Treel ; CtiAOIt, a stripe of land.
Tree-lick-a-curry ; Utll t1Ag A CtltltlA1$,
three stones of the moor. — 0? Donovan.
Treelickatemple ; CUT U&g A teAmptUtt,
three stones of the church.
Tromera ; UtlOtntlA, where alder trees grow.
To the east of this townland is a fort called
Ce<vo<\6 boon. Trim, the chief town of Meath,
got its name from alder trees which grew over
the Boyne there. Its Irish form is b<\ite aua
cptntn, i.e.. Town of ford of alder tree. Tromera
contains two cartrons of land, and was formerly
a populous place. It is near the town of Gran-
ard. Tromlan [(UjuomUxn, abounding in alder
trees), situated in parish of Killenummery, County
Leitrim. 5|teAc-n<x-pe^riA, mountain flat of the
alder tree ; also in Killenummery.
TULLY ; Atl UUtAC, also CUL&1§, the little hill.
Tulach is a hill of conical shape, seen in
various parts of Ireland. In ancient times it
was used as a burial ground. Tulach is said to
be derived from tul, an old Irish word meaning
naked. " Bri is another term of a hill and is
220
PLACE-NAMES.
cognate with the Scotch brae? — (J Donovan.
Tully is also written Tullow> Tulla, Tullagh.
Uut<\c TDongAin, the name of a hill near Cavan
town, where the O'Reillys, princes of East Breff-
ney were formerly inaugurated. "Brefney is,
according to Steward's Topography, derived from
Bri} a hill, and therefore signifies the country of
hills." — O'Hart. Tulcon (Uutcon, hill of hound),
situated near Mohill. Mace(tTlof, a rich hill);
it is near Rathowen (Rat 665 aw), County West-
meath. — Q> Donovan.
TULLYS ; tlA UtlLAlg, the hillocks.
TULLYBAWN ; UUtAC t)AH, white hillocks.
Tullybrian ; UUtAC t>tt1A1t1, O'Brien's hill.
TURBOY; UOTt tmrOe, yellow bush.
ADDENDUM.
Cloonadonald; CVUAW t)OrhnA1tt, Donald's
meadow.
COWANAMONOG; At)Airm tlA mCnO^, river of
the bogberries.
Garryhemly; SARUAi^e tiotriAttAiS,
Timothy's land.
This is the name of a place in Clough, parish
of Abbeylara.
Garryhaune; 5Atl1lAlt>e Se<\5<\1 tl, John's
land.
KlLMORE (in parish of Clongeish); C01tt tnOtl,
big wood.
KlLMORE (in parish of Scrabby); COil mOtl, large
hazel.
St. Caillen of Fenagh (p'otmac, woods of large
trees. — 0' Donovan), blessed a Cathach, which
was a cross made of hazel, for the Conmaicne tribe.
Before going to battle an ecclesiastic carried this
Cathach three times round the army from right
to left, this ceremony gave the army a hope of
victory.
221
222
ADDENDUM.
Kilatraow; COtt A' CtlAgA, hazel of the strand.
This is the name of a place on the shores of
Loch Gamhna (Gowna).
KlLLENLASTER ; COltt ATI LASUtlA, wood of
conflagration.
This is the name of a townland in the parish
of Moydow. It was here St. Lupta threw the
embers from her bosom. — 0' Donovan.
LOUGHILL (in parish of Ardagh); teAtflCOVlt,
wood of mallows, a plant with soft leaves.
MOSSTOWN ; t)Alte CA011AC.
" Mosstown was defended by the Newcombes,
in 1641, but it was obliged to capitulate. It was
garrisoned by the same family for King William,
and was unsuccessfully besieged by James' forces.
The Protestant Church was built by the Countess
of Ross in 1833, at a cost of ^2,ooo.') — Lewis' Top.
Diet. Keenaghan (CaonAcan, mossy land) ; it is
east of cross-roads between Leitrim and Carrick-
on-Shannon.
Rapparree-HILL ; CHOC TLOpAITte, noisy hill.
Strokestown ; t)AHe ti& tntouitti.
This is the name of a townland in parish of
Mostrim.
Eithne, ingen Echach Feidlig, ben aile do
Chonchobur cetne, mathair Furbaidi rnic Con-
ADDENDUM.
223
cobair (1 is airi adberta Furbaide de .i. a urbad
no a gerrad do rindead a broind a mathar
iarna bathad ar glaiss Bearramain risa raiter in
Eithne ining, *j is uaithisi sloindter in aband, .1.
Eithne, ie., " Eithne (Inny), daughter of Eochaid
Feidleach, another wife of the same Conchobar,
mother of * Furbaidhe/ son of Conchobar (it is
therefore he was called Furbaidhe, because the
* urbad/ or cutting of him out of the womb of
his mother was performed after she was drowned
in the stream Bearramain, which is called the
Eithne (i.e., the River Inny which flows through
South Longford), to-day, and it is from her the
river takes its name, namely Eithne,"
The above piece of ancient Irish is taken from
the Book of Lecan. Its translation is given in
6jiiti, a journal edited by Kuno Meyer and the
late lamented John Strachan.
The Conchobar mentioned above was Conor
MacNessa,King of Ulster, who ruled that province
from the Court of "Emania the Golden/' about the
time of the birth of Christ At the death hour of
our Lord, Conchobar called his druid to explain to
him the cause of the sudden darkness which fell
over the country. The druid informed him that
the innocent God was being put to death at that
very hour, by his own people, etc. In a temper
Conchobar rushed for his sword to show how he
ADDENDUM.
would strike down those wicked men were he at
the Crucifixion. His anger irritated an old
wound in his head, which caused his immediate
death. It is written that he was the first man in
Ireland to die for Christ.
From the above extract we learn the origin,
antiquity, and correct orthography of the river-
name Inny; we also learn that Bearramain was
its more ancient name.
u With a bound from his seat rose King Conor, the
red flush of rage in his face,
Fast he ran through the hall for his weapons, and
snatching his sword from its place,
He rushed to the woods, striking wildly at boughs
that dropped down with each blow,
And he cried : ' Were I midst the vile rabble, I 'd
cleave them to earth even so !
With the strokes of a high King of Erin, the
whirls of my keen-tempered sword,
Would save from their horrible fury, that mild and
that merciful Lord.'
His frame shook and heaved with emotion ; the
brain-ball leaped forth from his head,
And commending his soul to his Saviour, King
Conor MacNessa lay dead."
— T. D. Sullivan,
t>uit>eACAS te tha!
ram
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